Getting the MESSAGE.

INSTANT messaging; EMAIL systems; INTERNET; BUSINESS communication; AUDITING; BUSINESS enterprises

Focuses on the trends for the use of instant messaging (IM) as a mainstream communications tool in the U.S. as of August 2003. Total population of business IM users as of February 2003; Issues that should be addressed by companies that are adopting IM as a communications tool; Concerns of financial professionals over the use of IM; Significance of auditing instant messages for compliance purposes.