Free Instant-Messaging Software

To use instant messaging, all you'll need is an Internet connection and messaging software. And each person you want to communicate with needs to have the same messaging software installed, or at least software that is compatible with the one you want to use.

Most instant messenger programs

are free, so you can download several and choose your favorite. Each program only takes a few minutes to download, even with the slowest modems. Try one of these popular messengers for your business:

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). AIM is not limited to those with AOL accounts — more than 50 million people use it. AIM comes in Windows, Macintosh, and Linux versions, and you can exchange text, photos, sounds, and even animation. For business users, the file-sharing option is helpful for collaborative projects. A drawback to AIM, however, is the lack of authorization: Any other AIM user can add you to their contact list and send you messages without your permission.

ICQ. With ICQ ("I Seek You"), you can send text messages, Web addresses, voice messages (you'll need a sound card and microphone), greeting cards, and files from your hard drive to those on your contact list. You can also set reminder and to-do messages, exchange your buddy lists with other users, and keep a detailed archive of all the messages you send and receive.

MSN Messenger Service. If you're already using MSN services such as Passport or Hotmail, Microsoft's Messenger Service can streamline these tools. For example, in addition to telling you which of your contacts is online, MSN Messenger Service will alert you when you have new Hotmail messages.

Yahoo! Messenger. This free software comes with some important security features, like the ability to hide your e-mail domain from other users. Also, unlike many other chat and messenger programs, Yahoo! Messenger lets you connect through firewalls and proxy servers. You can also use the personalization features in Messenger to get your stock quotes, sports scores of your favorite teams, local news, and more.