A study from Radicati Group reinforces the notion that IM has evolved from a means for people to engage in idle chatter to a vital business communication tool. Eighty-five percent of North American businesses use IM, according to the study, and 44% of those businesses that have adopted IM sought to improve internal communication. Thirty-three percent are saving long-distance phone charges by encouraging employees to use IM. In a C|Net story on the study, Cantor Fitzgerald trader Sal Morreale is quoted: “If you don’t have IM in this business, you’re not there. I tend to have 10 or 11 IM windows open at a time.”

The study, “Messaging and Collaboration Corporate Survey, 2005 - 2006,” is $2,500 from Radicati. I’d advise you just read the C|Net story.