| Most anyone whose kids have become teenagers | | | | paid special attention to Yahoo Messenger, especially |
| over the last few years has almost certainly at least | | | | recently. As more surfers have moved to high-speed |
| heard of "IM". It's become a verb among not only | | | | internet connections, Yahoo has upgraded Yahoo |
| teens, but many adult surfers too. As in "IM me | | | | Messenger to include Launchcast Radio, Yahoo |
| later!". For anyone who doesn't know, IM, or Instant | | | | Games, and of course, a considerable selection of |
| Messaging, is software that lets people communicate | | | | customization options. |
| over the Internet, well, instantly. Or nearly so - with | | | | Perhaps the biggest change, and one many adult |
| only slight delays most of the time, instant messaging | | | | surfers will most appreciate, is the addition of |
| has always allowed users to type messages back | | | | Webcam, photo, and voice chat capabilities. Voice |
| and forth over the Internet. It's a lot like passing a | | | | chat, in particular, will probably appeal to a broad |
| note in class, with new parts of a conversation | | | | audience. With it, a pair of speakers, and a |
| added on to the end of previous parts. Yahoo | | | | microphone, you can talk live with contacts, over the |
| Messenger was one of the first to offer both IM | | | | Internet, even internationally, for free, using voice |
| software and a lane on the information superhighway | | | | over IP technology. Most of the time, depending on |
| for IM messages to travel. | | | | network traffic between you and the other party, |
| But as the kids have grown, so has Yahoo | | | | the conversation is loud & clear, and there is very |
| Messenger. It's a lot more than a mere teen toy | | | | little delay. |
| now. Yahoo, in an effort to attract and retain loyalty | | | | You may have wondered why your teens would |
| to it's brand, offers email, a personalized My Yahoo | | | | prefer to type messages when they can just as |
| Portal, an address book, calendar, maps, bookmarks, | | | | easily call their friends. Now, with Yahoo Messenger, |
| a toolbar, and other services, many of them | | | | they, and you, can do both, using the same |
| integrated to work together. But they seem to have | | | | software! |