Computer Chat How many vbulletin users are logged into IM while browsing forums?

[Alfa1]

Im wondering what percentage of internet users are logged into IM while browsing the net. Does anyone know?
And more specifically: does anyone have a clue what percentage of forum users are logged into IM while browsing forum?

I think this question is important, because I suspect that IB is leaving a huge opportunity open, by not making use of Instant Messaging networks.

[Mike Anime]

i am ALWAYS on windows live messenger when my pc is on, wich is all the time only time the pc is off is when i clean it or a reboot after dumping my temp files.

[anthonyparsons]

I don't go near them nowadays, as I would log on and would be wasting countless hours with IM messages and then people wanting to contact me to chat live, whilst I had more important things to do. So I steer clear of them as much as possible. When I installed an IM into one of my forum installs, I actually wiped my friends list as it works on that basis, then only relisted a handful of people I actually wanted to chat with and knew not to bother me unless it was important.

I see them as a time waster myself... though still they very much have an excellent means of quick, live, communication.

[ChopSuey]

Im online when i want to be.

[Joe Gronlund]

1995-1996 24/7

[MRGTB]

I don't go near them nowadays, as I would log on and would be wasting countless hours with IM messages and then people wanting to contact me to chat live, whilst I had more important things to do. So I steer clear of them as much as possible. When I installed an IM into one of my forum installs, I actually wiped my friends list as it works on that basis, then only relisted a handful of people I actually wanted to chat with and knew not to bother me unless it was important.

I see them as a time waster myself... though still they very much have an excellent means of quick, live, communication.

I agree with that, years ago I went with the idea that I thought it would be great to have a chatroom installed on your forum. Truth is though, they don't get used by your forum members. They are good for "staff live discussion" behind the scene - just like you said.

But apart from that, they'll do nothing for your forum board as a whole. And will just remain unused 99.9% of the time.

[Trevor Hannant]

I have Skype on when I'm online but the only contacts I have are vB/IB staff and my partner (from when I didn't live with her) and my brother who lives in the US. Other than that, no...

[Ryan Ashbrook]

Generally, if I'm online for long periods of time, I'm on MSN. And now I'm using Skype more so I can communicate with the rest of the vBPT team.

I also have MSN and Skype on my phone if I need to jump online really quick, but I'm not near my computer.