This instant messaging app timeline infographic depicts how instant messaging entered the mainstream in the 1990s, allowing friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and like-minded thinkers worldwide to connect in real time. Instant messaging has transformed how we communicate, with over 2.5 billion people using at least one messaging app. The current IM experience is seamless, with features such as video, photos, voice, e-commerce, and gaming seamlessly integrating with plain-old messaging. Despite the impressive features of dominant apps such as Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp, today's technology would not be possible without the earlier breakthroughs of their more primitive forefathers.
