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Compatible Time-Sharing System
CTSS was demonstrated in 1961 at the MIT Computation Center by Fernando J. Corbató and allowed up to 30 users to instant message each other - http://multicians.org/thvv/compatible-time-sharing-system.pdf -
Quantum Link
The Commodore 64 (computer) came with an Internet service called Quantum Link which allowed people to send messages through a modem for a monthly fee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgH27p-FAM -
Zephyr Notification Service
Created again at MIT as a part of Project Athena, this was an application that allowed notifications to be sent between different networks that is still used today in many Univerisities including MIT.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.104.7254 -
Bulletin Board System
A BBS is a computer application allowing the sharing of messgaes and files on a network
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/bulletin-board-system-BBS -
Shorthand Language
As instant messaging became more popular, so did the use of shorthand language - abbreviations of many commonly used words and phrases to make instant messaging...more instant.
http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp -
ICQ
This chat, created by company Mirabilis, allowed users to send messages to anyone they had the phone number of. It included a feature to show when someone was "active" or not.
https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/15/happy-20th-birthday-icq/ -
AIM
AIM integrated social networking sharing pictures, files and videos and allowed for audio chatting as well as themes and skins.
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-aim-1949607 -
Yahoo! Messenger
This instant chat channel is still being updated and used today and is always having new features added to it.
https://messenger.yahoo.com/ -
MSN
One of the most popular instant messaging services from Microsoft! -
iChat
iChat was Apple's instant messaging client design. It included all the features many of the popular IM programs has such as file sharing, video and audio chat and more.
http://mashable.com/2012/02/16/ichat-is-dead/#uV45dsJONuqX -
Skype
Skype was adverstised as a way to call someone anywhere in the world for free. It also over time has added in features like group calls and screen sharing.
https://www.skype.com/en/ -
MSN Renamed "Windows Live Messenger"
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MySpaceIM
This was intergrated with the social networking site MySpace - however did not accomodate Mac users.
http://www.adweek.com/digital/myspace-instant-messenger-myspaceim/ -
Facebook Chat
I big feature of Facebook Chat was being notified when friends came online and became inactive.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-engineering/facebook-chat/14218138919/ -
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is now one of the most commonly used IM messaging services as it encompasses a range of features including video/audio chat, gifs, stickers, you can now draw on and edit pictures in the app before sending it, games and much more - it has taken instant messaging to another level.