Instant messaging

Instant messaging is the act of instantly communicating between two or more people over a network such as the Internet.

Origin of term

The phrase "instant message" was devised by Paul M. A. Linebarger for a gimmick in the science-fiction stories he wrote in the 1960s under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith. His instant messages were to be across interstellar distances at speeds faster than that of light, and said to be expensive so he could write plots concerning their unaffordability. From there, the phrase was picked up by members of New England Science Fiction Association, many of whom were computer professionals, for their weekly mimeographed newsletter. The phrase may have come from there. It should be noted that America Online did not originally refer to their own IM service as an instant messenger. The early software releases referred to it as "FlashMail." Early users spoke of "flashing" one another, probably one reason the name was changed.

Related Topics:
Paul M. A. Linebarger - 1960s - Cordwainer Smith - New England Science Fiction Association - Mimeograph

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