IM（instant messaging） 即时通信

即时通信（Instant Messaging，简称IM）是一种透过网络进行实时通信的系统，允许两人或多人使用网络即时的传递文字消息、文件、语音与视频交流。通常以网站、电脑软件或移动应用程序的方式提供服务。

即时通信是一个终端连往即时通信网络的服务。它不同于电子邮件在于它的交谈是即时（实时）的。大部分的即时通信服务提供了状态信息的特性──显示联系人名单，联系人是否在在线与能否与联系人交谈。一般而言，华语区使用即时通信软件，来代替即时通信客户端。在早期的即时通信程序中，用户输入的每一个字符都会即时显示在双方的屏幕，且每一个字符的删除与修改都会即时的反应在屏幕上。这种模式比起使用e-mail更像是电话交谈。在现在的即时通信程序中，交谈中的另一方通常只会在本地端按下提交键（Enter或是Ctrl+Enter）后才会看到消息。在互联网上受欢迎的即时通信服务包含了Windows Live Messenger、Yahoo! Messenger、AOL Instant Messenger、skype、LINE、WhatsApp、Telegram、微信、.NET Messenger Service、Jabber、ICQ与QQ等。这些服务的许多想法都来源于历史更久的在线聊天协议——IRC。

Instant messaging (IM) technology is a type of online chat that offers real-time text transmission over the Internet. A LAN messenger operates in a similar way over a local area network. Short messages are typically transmitted between two parties, when each user chooses to complete a thought and select "send". Some IM applications can use push technology to provide real-time text, which transmits messages character by character, as they are composed. More advanced instant messaging can add file transfer, clickable hyperlinks, Voice over IP, or video chat. Non-IM types of chat include multicast transmission, usually referred to as "chat rooms", where participants might be anonymous or might be previously known to each other (for example collaborators on a project that is using chat to facilitate communication). Instant messaging systems tend to facilitate connections between specified known users (often using a contact list also known as a "buddy list" or "friend list"). Depending on the IM protocol, the technical architecture can be peer-to-peer (direct point-to-point transmission) or client-server (an Instant message service center retransmits messages from the sender to the communication device). 以下为相关例句，供参考：

例句1

The best comparison I can make is that it’s like your entire instant messaging (IM) history with someone.

我能提供的最合适的对照是，它就像你和某个人之间即时通信（IM）中的完整的历史记录。

例句2

For purposes of covering this instant messaging technique in an article format, we scaled down the awareness version that our company uses.

为了以文章格式涵盖此即时通信技术，我们缩小了公司使用的感知版本。

例句3

Using an instant messaging client as a friendlier interface into database systems, where one of the parties in the exchange is a database agent rather than a human, is yet another possibility.

另一种可能性是使用即时通信客户端作为更友好的数据库系统界面，在这种系统中，参与信息交换的一方是数据库代理，而不是人类。