Erik Ernst is a perfect example of the new breed of corporate user. An e-commerce consultant in Chicago, Ernst has installed four IM programs on his work PC. The programs connect to public IM networks operated by AOL, MSN, Yahoo! and an AOL subsidiary called ICQ. But because these networks don’t talk to each other, he needs to maintain all four programs. Ernst, 28, started using IM in college. He says it’s simply more effective at reaching people when they’re online. The reason is when they’re logged on, their names pop up on his “buddy list.” With IM, clicking on a name opens a separate dialogue box. Ernst can then start chatting (“Wanna get lunch today?”), forward files and documents, or send a music clip. Does IT know about this? “Nope,” Ernst says with a shrug.
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