Selecting a Chat Service Lisa Williams Coordinator of Research Services UNC Wilmington

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Selecting a Chat ServiceLisa
WilliamsCoordinator of Research Services UNC
Wilmington
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Free IM Providers
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AIM

• AIM Introduced by America Online in 2002 to
  help businesses manage the use of instant
  messaging
• Newest version offers Video IM, Screen Name
  Linking, AIM Games and Mobile IM

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Yahoo

• Yahoo - includes a security feature which allows
  the user to be "invisible" to whomever they
  choose
• http//messenger.yahoo.com/features.php_yltAgtIx
  .TaBXWyhoGHTso2wWFwMMIF

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MSN

• Coming soon Windows Live Messenger instantly
  share your photos and other stuff, and to connect
  with friends via text, voice, video, and PC-to-PC
  calling

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ICQ

• ICQ short for I seek you was launched in 1996
  and has over 150 million registered users
• http//www.icq.com/

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Other IM Providers

• IRC - Internet Relay Chat http//www.mirc.com/
• PowWow http//www.powwow.com/
• Netscape Instant Messenger http//home.netscape.c
  om/aim/
• CompuServe Instant Messenger http//www.compuserv
  e.com/csim/
• Excite Messenger http//www.messenger.excite.com/
  
• Lycos Messenger http//www.messenger.lycos.com/
• Odigo http//www.odigo.com/
• EveryBuddy http//www.everybuddy.com/
• Jabber http//www.jabber.org

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IM Aggregators
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Trillian
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Trillian

• According to PC Magazine Trillian 3.1 handles one
  or more accounts for each of the four big IM
  services plus IRC
• It is very easy to use
• Works with AIM, MSN, ICQ and IRC
• Offers built-in linking to word definitions in
  Wikipedia
• Basic version is free

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Gaim 1.5.0
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Gaim

• free and open source
• active developer community
• multi-protocol
• stable
• a lot of plugins are available
• can be configured for centralized (network)
  logging

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Gaim

• According to PC Magazine Gaim 1.5.0 handles nine
  IM systems and multiple accounts on each service
• http//gaim.sourceforge.net
• They are working on 2.0.0 and have a beta
  available now

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Downloading IM

• If a patron does not want to download IM to their
  computer there are websites where they can just
  log-in and start chatting
• http//www.e-messenger.net/
• http//www.aim.com/get_aim/express/aim_expr.adp
• http//www6.meebo.com/

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Promoting IM _at_ UNCW
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Instant Messenger

• Promote during instruction
• Buddy names listed on library webpages
• Students use INSIDE the library as well as
  outside

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IM Use Statistics

• August 2004 June 2005 391 sessions
• July 2005 December 2005 129 sessions

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Who Randall chats with and how we chat

• AIM
• Yahoo
• MSN

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Trillian
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What are they chatting with?
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IM Tips
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IM Tips

• Just because the person you are chatting with
  isn't answering doesn't mean they're ignoring
  you
• If the person's PC speaker is turned down, they
  probably won't notice your IM
• Dont send lengthy messages, a multi-tasker does
  not like to wait

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IM Tips

• If a patron walks up to the desk while you are
  IMing let them know you will be with them as soon
  as you wrap up the chat session
• If a chat session pops up while you are helping
  someone at the desk, let them know you have
  received their message and will be with them as
  soon as you wrap up your transaction

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IM Tips

• Treat IM as you would a phone call. If it
  becomes an extended transaction, invite them to
  come into the library for one on one assistance
• When starting a chat session inquire if the other
  party can instant message. Start out with
  something like, "Hi, can you chat?" Or, "Are you
  available?"

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Most IMportant Tip

• Don't write anything in an IM that you wouldn't
  write in an e-mail or a typed letter.