Conclusion

There is no doubt that instant messaging has changed the way we communicate. It's also hard to imagine life without instant messaging these days. Once forbidden in workplaces, it is now widely accepted in many organizations as the most cost-effective way to boost productivity and reduce operational costs.

However, I hope IM providers will not to go overboard with their client's features. Perhaps they should give more thought to the quality of functionality their clients already provide, rather than trying to compete on the number of bells and whistles in their latest release.

I also wish that IM providers will eventually agree on a universal instant messaging protocol so that we, the consumers, do not have to put up with multiple clients and IM networks. That said, it is understood that competition provides impetus for continuous improvement and the oligopoly we have in the IM arena may be a necessary evil we have to put up with... for now.

Questions & Comments

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