After more than a decade as a communication medium, the instant messaging industry is facing a second-generation surge of patronage spurred by increased cell phone and social networking usage, a new survey reveals.
According to the second annual Associated Press-AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey released Nov. 15, more than 25 percent of respondents said they send IMs from a cell phone-based client, including one in three teens surveyed.
Erin Gifford, a spokesperson for AOL, said the proliferation of cell phones with full keyboards has helped create a wave of new users as sending IMs is now easier on-the-go.
Additionally, social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are helping fuel the trend through browser-based instant messaging features, she said.
The second-generation growth of the industry can be attributed to the strength of instant messaging products on the market, said David Liu, AOL's Senior Vice President.
"This survey also found that instant messaging is truly helping people become more productive and better manage their relationships wherever they may be."
