Social Media Revolution

Another thing that has been brilliantly and completely changed by the internet.

Way back in the old days [citation needed], the only definitive form of electronic communication was by calling someone. Nowadays, who makes phone calls anymore? Certainly the frequency has reduced drastically.

Instant Messaging

Recently, Microsoft announced it was going to retire Windows Live Messenger in favour of Skype. It is with great fondness that I say goodbye as its lights dim on March 15, 2013. It had made it so easy to communicate with friends and family back in the day. Here is a short history of Instant Messaging.

Brief IM Timeline

1970s

Developers create peer-to-peer protocol, allowing users to send and receive private messages from others logging in to the same computer. Later versions allowed users to contact each other in real-time over a local network.

August, 1982

Quantum Link, a software package for the Commodore 64 computer, allows users to send online messages for an additional per-minute fee.

1983

Washington High School student Mark Jenks creates "Talk," giving students and teachers the opportunity to communicate through digital messaging boards and first-generation e-mail boxes.

August, 1988

Internet Relay Chat is created by Jarkko Oikarinen, giving the world a means to communicate through text-based messaging in multi-user groups called "channels."

October, 1991

Quantum Link changes its name to America Online; begins development of AOL software, including AIM.

November, 1996

Mirabilis releases ICQ, which allows users to send real-time instant messages over the Internet.

May, 1997

AIM debuts, featuring IM, chatrooms and file sharing capabilities.

March 9, 1998

Yahoo! Pager launches; new IM features include buddy alerts, the ability to block unwanted contacts and greater profile personalization options.

June 8, 1998

AOL acquires Mirabilis for $407 million, placing ICQ under the AOL family of products.

July 22, 1999

Windows launches MSN Messenger, featuring simple IM capabilities, a contact list and access to AIM buddies.

May, 2000

The multi-protocol IM client Jabber launches, allowing IM users to access all their buddy lists within one client for the first time.

Nov. 29, 2000

Trillian, a multi-protocol IM, gives users the ability to chat with friends on AIM, ICQ and MSN Messenger within one client, in addition to giving the buddy list greater organization through color coding.

August 24, 2005

Google launches Google Talk, featuring IM capabilities, contact lists and interoperability within Gmail.

Dec. 13, 2005

MSN Messenger changes its name to Windows Live Messenger, offering offline messaging, stronger search capabilities, a modified contact list and greater personalization options.

And now we look to the future - Skype. Yes we might not make phone calls in the conventional sense anymore, but calls through the internet are a popular way of communicating, especially over long distances. Here is a breakdown of its meteoric rise:

Having examined the past, and looked to the future, I can only conclude what was so promising and innovative, has surpassed expectations and will continue to develop into even greater things.

What can I say, its great to be born in and to live in the age of the Internet.