II. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). CHAT WITH FRIENDS IN AN INSTANt Ways to communicate Getting started Choose your category Speed and flexibility Long-distance solution 67. Instant messaging – or IM – is more immediate than e-mail as you don’t have to check your inbox for new messages – they appear instantly. Another advangtage is that more than two people at a time can join in an IM conversation, so it’s ideal for, say, making social arrangements among groups of friends. 68. Communication by IM isn’t restricted to text. You can send pictures stored on your computer, and if you have microphones and speakers you can talk – the advantage being that internet charges are usually cheaper than phone calls. If you and a friend have webcams, you can also make a video call, in which you can see as well as hear each other. 69. John Moran, 13, from Southport uses instant messaging to keep in touch with relatives on the other side of the world. “When I go online I swap messages with my cousins in Australia,” says John “It’s much cheaper than phoning them and means I can speak to them more often.” Carol Taylor, 24, who lives in Argentina, agrees. ‘My parents live in the UK, and we prefer using an instant messenger to sending emails or text messages as it’s more like a real conversation,” she says. “I’d rather chat online than call them as it costs so much less.” 70. 71. Once you’ve installed this software and connected to the Internet you can start exchanging messages with your friends online. Each user of the service has their own user name. If you find out the user names of people you know, you can create a friend lists. Then, when you go online, the software tells you which of them are also connected to the Internet, and you can send them a message. 72. The features on offer vary depending on which service you opt for, although there is not much difference between instant messenger packages. As well as allowing you to use microphones and webcams, most give you a range of options regarding your status. You can usually appear as “online”, “busy” or “away from PC”. The “busy” status is useful if you’re online but don’t want to be disturbed. The “away from PC” status is usually used by those who are permanently online (people who have broadband or an office connection) but aren’t always at their computer.