Many programs also allow you to have voice conversations, have video conferencing – this means you can see the other person using a (12) ______ and also let you swap pictures, music and other files.

This makes IM less useful than it should be. Imagine if you could not (11)_____ an email from Hotmail to Yahoo. 

The advantages of IM are (9)_____ , but there is one very important disadvantage. 

You can only contact someone on the same (10) ____as you.

_____ , IM is starting to take off in the UK, with over 3,000 people (8)_____ up to MSN Messenger every day.

With IM, however, a program on your computer tells you when a friend is (6)_____

(2)_____ you know what I’m talking about then you are (3)_____ already a user of Instant Messaging, or IM.

Your friend might not check their messages, or might not use that email (5)_____ anymore.

When you send someone an email, you don’t know when you will get a (4)_____ . 

(7)_____ , IM is starting to take off in the UK, with over 3,000 people _____ up to MSN Messenger every day.