Third Annual Instant Messaging Survey

TOPLINE U.S. FINDINGS:
Overall Usage Stats
Teens & IM
IM at Work
Mobile Messaging
Hottest IM Features:
Voice, Video and More...

TOP MARKETS AND SPECIAL AWARDS:
Top Ten IM Cities
1. Miami, FL
2. New York, NY
3. Boston, MA
4. Chicago, IL
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
7. Detroit, MI
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Sacramento, CA
10. Tampa, FL
AOL's Third Annual IM Awards

ICQ's GLOBAL IM TRENDS:
A) Overall Usage Stats
B) Close-up on Hot IM Markets
1. The U.K.
2. Germany
3. Hong Kong
4. Brazil

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Mainstream Topline U.S. Findings:

Overall Usage Stats

Email is Old School: Thirty-eight percent say they send as many or more IMs than emails, and the younger users are, the more likely they are to favor IM. Two-thirds (66 percent) of teens and young adults (ages 13-21) say they send more IMs than emails, up from 49 percent last year.

Meet the Parents: More than half (53 percent) of teens (ages 13-17) surveyed say their parents now issue guidelines and rules about instant messaging. Teen boys (55 percent) are more likely to have parental IM rules than are teen girls (50 percent), and fully 65 percent of teens who have rules say they follow them.

Hit the Road: One in three (33 percent) IM users send mobile IMs or text messages from their cell phones at least once a week. This is a dramatic increase over 2004, when just 19 percent said they do so, and 2003 when the figure was 10 percent.

Another Day, Another "Away Message": Half (47 percent) of those ages 13-21 change their away messages every day, to let others know where they are (71 percent), to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (47 percent) or to post a favorite lyric or quote (47 percent). Seven percent have even posted a call to action, like "Please donate to the Red Cross to help hurricane victims."

IM Too Busy: At-work IM users now send IMs to communicate with colleagues (58 percent), to get answers and make business decisions (49 percent) and even to interact with clients or customers (28 percent). Twelve percent have used IM at work to avoid a difficult in-person conversation.

I Want IM TV!: One in four (26 percent) IM users say that live streaming television is the one feature they wish was available on their IM service. Music on demand came in second (25 percent) and video on demand was third (21 percent).

The Sound of Your Voice: Meanwhile, 20 percent say they currently enjoy, or would like to try, making live voice calls to other computers, landlines and cell phones directly from their IM service. Another 12 percent say they would be interested in an IM-based VoIP service that could replace their primary household phone line.

who Top IM Uses Include:

Top IM Features:

Top "Away" Message Uses:

Top "Away" Message Uses:

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What are they doing Teens and IM

KIT - Keep in Touch: Thirty percent of teens consider instant messaging the way they most often keep in touch with friends on a day-to-day basis, surpassing the cell phone, which was selected by 27 percent of teens. Seventeen percent of teens prefer to catch up in person.

Homework First: Among those with IM rules, 43 percent say they can send instant messages only when their homework is done. Meanwhile, 24 percent can go online for a set amount of time each day or can only send IMs to a group of people known by their parents. Twenty-three percent can IM only at certain hours of the day.

Size Matters: More than two-thirds (70 percent) of teen IM users think they have about the same number or more buddies on their Buddy List feature as their friends. To get to the bottom of the debate, AIMŪ users can visit http://www.aimfight.com to pit themselves against their friends to find out once and for all who has the bigger Buddy List.

Meet the Parents: More than half (53 percent) of teens (ages 13-17) surveyed say their parents now issue guidelines and rules about instant messaging. Teen boys (55 percent) are more likely to have parental IM rules than are teen girls (50 percent), and fully 65 percent of teens who have rules say they follow them.

Top IM Uses Among Teens Include:

Top "Away" Message Uses Among Teens:

Top IM Features Among Teens:

Teen Interest in Future Features:

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At Work IM at Work

IM Too Busy: At-work IM users now send IMs to communicate with colleagues (58 percent), to get answers and make business decisions (49 percent) and even to interact with clients or customers (28 percent). Twelve percent have used IM at work to avoid a difficult in-person conversation.

Peace of Mind for Working Parents: For working moms and dads, the impact of instant messaging is higher than the national average. In fact, 83 percent say that their day-to-day business lives have benefited from instant messaging. One in four (25 percent) say that instant messaging enables them to check in on their children, providing greater peace of mind.

The Business Card Exchange: Among those who use instant messaging for business purposes, 13 percent say they have their IM screen name printed on their business card, while six percent say they write it on the business cards they exchange. New Yorkers appear to be most hip to screen names, with 26 percent having their IM screen names printed on their business cards.

IM Planning My Family Vacation: Forty-three percent of at-work users send instant messages to plan activities with family or friends, while 32 percent send celebratory wishes, such as Happy Birthday, and 26 percent share photos. In Detroit, 21 percent of at-work users use IM to stay in touch with friends or family serving in the military.

At Work Top Business-Related IM Uses Include:

Top Social-Related IM Uses Include:

Impact on Work Life:

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Mobile Messaging

IM on My Phone: One in three (33 percent) IM users say they also send SMS messages or mobile instant messages at least once a week from their cell phone. In Los Angeles, mobile messaging is most popular (42 percent), while Detroiters are still just getting started (26 percent).

Hit the Road: One in three (33 percent) IM users send mobile IMs or text messages from their cell phones at least once a week. This is a dramatic increase over 2004, when just 19 percent said they do so, and 2003 when the figure was 10 percent.

Youth Rule: Nearly half (47 percent) of IM users aged 13-21 engage in text messaging and mobile instant messaging, while 42 percent do the same. Meanwhile, one-quarter (24 percent) of those aged 35-54 say they send messages from their cell phones.

Use of Mobile Messaging:

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Hottest IM Features

I Want IM TV!: One in four (26 percent) IM users say that live streaming television is the one feature they wish was available on their IM service. Music on demand came in second (25 percent) and video on demand was third (21 percent).

The Sound of Your Voice: Meanwhile, 20 percent say they currently enjoy, or would like to try, making live voice calls to other computers, landlines and cell phones directly from their IM service. Another 12 percent say they would be interested in an IM-based VoIP service that could replace their primary household phone line.

Interest in Future Features:

Teen Interest in Future Features:

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Top Markets and Special Awards

Top Ten IM Cities

1. Miami, FL
2. New York, NY
3. Boston, MA
4. Chicago, IL
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
7. Detroit, MI
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Sacramento, CA
10. Tampa, FL

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Miami: IM City # 1

Seventy-seven percent of Internet-savvy Miamians use instant messaging, while more than 40 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in Miami love photo sharing and away messages.

More Miami-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Miami are really into away messages, with 25 percent changing them every day. Miamians most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (53 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (35 percent).

More than half (58 percent) of Miamians like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. Twenty-two percent use IM slang all the time.

Nearly half (44 percent) of employed Miamians use instant messaging while at work. In fact, one in four (24 percent) have their IM screen names printed on their business cards.

In the workplace, Miami IM users have sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (41 percent), keep in touch with relatives overseas (30 percent) and send celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (27 percent).

More than one-third (35 percent) of IM users in Miami send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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New York: IM City #2

Seventy-three percent of Internet-savvy New Yorkers use instant messaging, while more than 29 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in the Big Apple love away messages and photo sharing.

More New York-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in New York are really into away messages, with 31 percent changing them every day. New Yorkers most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (57 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (43 percent).

More than half (59 percent) of New York IM users like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. More than one in ten (13 percent) use IM slang all the time.

Nearly one-third (29 percent) of employed New Yorkers use instant messaging while at work. In fact, one in four (26 percent) have their IM screen name printed on their business cards.

In the workplace, New York City IM users have sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (37 percent), send celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (33 percent), and share photos (26 percent).

Nearly one-third (31 percent) of Big Apple IM users send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Boston: IM City # 3

Seventy-five percent of Internet-savvy Bostonians use instant messaging, while more than 26 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in Beantown love away messages and personalizing their IMs with wallpapers and buddy icons.

More Boston-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Boston are really into away messages, with 36 percent changing them every day. Bostonians most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (53 percent) or to post a memorable quote (35 percent).

Two-thirds (65 percent) of Boston IM users like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. More than one in ten (14 percent) use IM slang all the time.

One in four (25 percent) employed Bostonians use instant messaging while at work. In fact, 65 percent use IM to get quick answers on business matters.

In the workplace, Boston IM users also have sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (36 percent), keep in touch with relatives overseas (20 percent) and to say things that they wouldn't document in a work email (24 percent).

More than one-third (36 percent) of IM users in Boston send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Chicago: IM City # 4

Sixty-eight percent of Internet-savvy Chicagoans use instant messaging, while more than 41 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in the Windy City love photo sharing and away messages.

More Chicago-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Chicago are really into away messages, with 28 percent changing them every day. Chicagoans most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (61 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (44 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of Windy City IM users like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages.

More than one in four (27 percent) employed Chicagoans use instant messaging while at work. Among at-work IM users, 60 percent send instant messages to communicate with colleagues, while 40 percent use IM to get quick answers to business matters.

In the workplace, Chicago IM users have also sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (30 percent), send celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (25 percent), or communicate things they wouldn't document in a work e-mail (25 percent).

More than one-third (35 percent) of IM users in Chicago send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Atlanta: IM City # 5

Seventy-five percent of Internet-savvy Atlantans use instant messaging, while more than 26 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in Atlanta love to personalize their IMs with wallpapers and buddy icons, as well as share photos.

More Atlanta-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Atlanta are really into away messages, with 26 percent changing them every day. Atlantans most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (59 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (38 percent).

More than half (63 percent) of IM users in Atlanta like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. One in five (20 percent) use IM slang all the time.

One-third (33 percent) of employed Atlantans use instant messaging while at work. In fact, 58 percent use IM to get quick answers on business matters.

In the workplace, Atlanta IM users also have sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (42 percent), sent celebratory wishes, such as Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (39 percent) and to keep in touch with relatives overseas (27 percent).

More than one-third (38 percent) of IM users in Atlanta send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Dallas/Ft. Worth: IM City # 6

Sixty-eight percent of Internet-savvy Dallas/Ft. Worth residents use instant messaging, while 40 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in the Metroplex love personalizing their IMs with wallpapers and buddy icons, as well as away messages.

More Dallas/Ft. Worth-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Dallas/Ft. Worth are really into away messages, with nearly one in four (24 percent) changing them every day. Metroplex IMers most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (52 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (35 percent).

More than half (61 percent) of Dallas/Ft. Worth IM users like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. More than one in ten (15 percent) use IM slang all the time.

More than one in five (21 percent) employed Dallas/Ft. Worth residents use instant messaging while at work. In fact, one in four (25 percent) have their IM screen names printed on their business cards.

In the workplace, Metroplex IM users have sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (50 percent), send celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (50 percent), and gossip or complain about the boss (44 percent).

More than one-third (39 percent) of IM users in Dallas/Ft. Worth send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Detroit: IM City # 7

Seventy-seven percent of Internet-savvy Detroit residents use instant messaging, while 40 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in the Motor City love away messages and personalizing their IMs with wallpapers and buddy icons.

More Detroit-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Detroit are really into away messages, with 27 percent changing them every day. They also most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (62 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (32 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of residents in Detroit like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. Fourteen percent use IM slang all the time.

Nearly one-quarter (21 percent) of those employed use instant messaging while at work. Among at-work IM users in Detroit, 58 percent send instant messages to communicate with colleagues, while 53 percent use IM to get quick answers to business matters.

In the workplace, Motor City IM users have also sent instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (42 percent), send celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (42 percent) and gossip or complain about their co-workers (32 percent)!

More than one-quarter (26 percent) of IM users in Detroit send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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San Francisco: IM City # 8

Sixty-seven percent of Internet-savvy Bay area residents use instant messaging, while 38 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in the San Francisco area love personalizing their IMs with wallpapers and buddy icons, as well as photo sharing.

More Bay area-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in the San Francisco area are really into away messages, with more than one in five (21 percent) changing them every day. Bay City IMers most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (57 percent) or to post a quote (23 percent).

More than half (61 percent) of San Francisco area IM users like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. More than one in ten (15 percent) use IM slang all the time.

One in three (32 percent) employed Bay City residents use instant messaging while at work. Among at-work IM users, 64 percent send instant messages to communicate with colleagues, while 57 percent use IM to get quick answers to business matters.

In the workplace, San Francisco area IM users have also sent instant messages to say things they wouldn't document in a work email (39 percent), gossip or complain about other co-workers (36 percent), and plan activities with family or friends (29 percent).

More than one-third (34 percent) of IM users in the Bay area send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Sacramento: IM City # 9

Sixty-eight percent of Internet-savvy Sacramentans use instant messaging, while 35 percent send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, IMers in Sacramento love away messages and photo sharing.

More Sacramento-specific survey highlights include:

IM users in Sacramento are really into away messages, with 23 percent changing them every day. Sacramento residents most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (53 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (26 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of Sacramentans like to use lingo, such as CU L8R (see you later) and GR8 (great), when sending instant messages. Thirteen percent use IM slang all the time.

More than one-quarter (27 percent) of employed Sacramento residents use instant messaging while at work. In fact, one in five (20 percent) have their IM screen name printed on their business cards.

In the workplace, local IM users also send instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (40 percent), keep in touch with relatives overseas (25 percent) and offer celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (25 percent).

Nearly one-third (32 percent) of IM users in Sacramento send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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Tampa: IM City # 10

Sixty-five percent of Internet-savvy Tampa-St. Pete residents use instant messaging while more than one-third (34 percent) send as many or more IMs than emails. As for favorite features, local IMers love to share photos and also to personalize with buddy icons, wallpaper and sounds, and

More Tampa-St. Petersburg-specific survey highlights include:

Local IM users are really into away messages, with nearly 20 percent changing them every day. They most often use their away message to let friends know where they are (57 percent) or to list a cell phone number or alternate way to be reached (31 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of IM users in Tampa-St. Pete like to use lingo, such as CU L8R and GR8, when sending instant messages. Sixteen percent use IM slang all the time.

Nearly one quarter (22 percent) of employed Tampa-St. Pete residents use instant messaging while at work. In fact, 10 percent have their IM screen names printed on their business cards.

In the workplace, local IM users send instant messages to plan activities with family or friends (60 percent), offer celebratory wishes, like Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's Day (40 percent), and share photos (25 percent).

Almost one-third (32 percent) of IM users in Tampa-St. Petersburg send text messages or mobile instant messages from their cell phones at least once a week.

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AOL's Third Annual IM Awards

The Water Cooler Award: At-work IM users in Dallas / Ft. Worth are most likely to gossip or complain about the boss via instant message (44 percent).

The Fastest Fingers Award: New Yorkers held onto this award for the second straight year, averaging 20 IMs sent per day per person. Last year, New York IMers averaged 17 per day.

The Job Jumper Award: In Seattle, IM users are most likely to send instant messages from work to look for new jobs (24 percent).

The 'An Affair to Forget' Award: IM users in New York are most likely to maintain multiple screen names to avoid an ex or a bad date (20 percent).

The Clark Kent Award: In Dallas/Ft. Worth, IM users are most likely to have multiple screen names in order to maintain an alter-ego (28 percent).

The Chatty Cathy Award: IM users are most "talkative" in Miami, with an average of more than two instant messaging conversations going on at once.

The Romance@Work Award: In Los Angeles, IM users are most likely to flirt by instant message from the workplace (40 percent).

The CU L8R Award: IM users in Phoenix are most likely to use IM lingo when sending instant messages (67 percent), such as GR8 (great) or BRB (be right back).

The Off the Record Award: In Seattle, at-work IM users are most likely to say things in an instant message that they wouldn't document in an email message (47 percent).

The Model Student Award: IM using teens in Orlando are most likely to have rules about being online and instant messaging, and are also most likely to follow them (90 percent).

The Top Producer Award: In Tampa, more at-work IM users than in any other city are likely to say that instant messaging helps them get more done each business day.

The "Here We Are, Now Entertain Us" Awards: Atlantans are most likely (34 percent) to want to watch live television on their IM client, while music on demand is the most desired addition (31 percent) for IMers in Houston.

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ICQ's Global IM Trends

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Overall Usage Stats

Shh, IM Making a Phone Call: The interest in making PC-to-phone calls from the IM service is high around the globe, with Brazil leading the way. In fact, 60 percent of Brazilian IM users want to make PC-to-phone VoIP calls. Meanwhile, 48 percent of IM users in Hong Kong and 45 percent in Germans want to do the same.

IM Sending Fewer Emails: In Hong Kong and Brazil, instant messaging is the communications vehicle of choice, with 56 percent in each region saying they send as many or more instant messages than emails. In Germany, 40 percent of IM users say the same, while just 23 percent of Britons send as many or more IMs than emails.

Features Vary Around the World: As for favorite features, 83 percent of German IM users find "away messaging" to be a favorite feature, while IM users in the UK prefer photo sharing (35 percent). Meanwhile, 76 percent of Brazilians and 66 percent of IM users in Hong Kong like to be able to use IM to exchange files.

Close-up on Hot IM Markets

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1) United Kingdom

Nearly one in four (23 percent) send as many or more IMs than they do emails, with the number rising to nearly half (44 percent) amongst 18-24 year olds.

Top IM Uses:

Top IM Features:

Interest in Future Features:

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2) Germany

Among the findings, more than 40 percent send as many or more IMs than emails, with the number rising to 66 percent amongst 18-24 year olds.

Top IM Uses:

Top IM Features:

Interest in Future Features:

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3) Hong Kong

Among the findings, more than half (56 per cent) send as many or more IMs than emails, with the number rising to 76 per cent among teens and young adults.

Top IM Uses:

Top IM Features:

Interest in Future Features:

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4) Brazil

Brazilians spend nearly as much time sending instant messages (80 percent) to stay in touch as they do speaking in-person (85 percent) with friends and family.

Top IM Uses:

Top IM Features:

Interest in Future Features: