For instance, you can't directly send an instant message to BlackBerry Messenger from Google Talk.

CNN: One-third of Americans prefer texts to voice calls

Despite the rudeness of doing so, 64 percent of employees report that they will ignore a meeting in which they are participating to answer email, answer a cell phone, update their social status, or send an instant message.

FORBES: Written by Yaacov Cohen

"I would never want a company to send me an instant message advertisement and as soon as that started I would instantly log off and never use the service again, " he says.

BBC: Messaging in an instant