A status message is a function of some instant messaging applications whereby a user may post a message that appears automatically to other users if they attempt to make contact. It is analogous to the voice message in an answering machine or voice mail system. However, status messages may be displayed even if the person is present. They are often updated much more frequently than messages in answering machines, and thus may serve as a means of instant, limited "publication" or indirect communication. A screenshot of PowWow, one of the first instant messengers with a graphical user interface Instant messaging is the act of instantly communicating between two or more people over a network such as the Internet. ... An answering machine, also known as an answer machine (especially in UK and British commonwealth countries), ansafone (tradename [1]), ansaphone (tradename [2]), answerphone or telephone answering device (TAD), is a device for automatically answering telephone calls and recording messages left by callers who are unable to answer the phone. ... Voicemail (or voice mail; abbreviated v-mail or vmail) is a specific application of an interactive voice response system. ...
Whereas answering machine or voice mail messages often have a generic greeting to leave a message, status messages more often contain a description of where the person is at the moment or what they are doing. Because most instant messaging clients indicate to users when their online contacts are away before they send a message, more often than not away messages are meant to be read in lieu of sending a message, rather than a response. Away messages are not to be confused with idle messages, which is an automatic reply to a message when the messaging client has determined that the replier is not at his computer. In computing, a client is a system that accesses a (remote) service on another computer by some kind of network. ...
Particularly among younger users, status messages are likely to contain a joke, song lyrics, or an adage instead of an actual description of where the user is. This is done so that potential contacters will have something to read more entertaining than the dry and uninteresting "I am away from my computer right now" which is often the default message on popular instant messaging clients. A joke is a short story or short series of words spoken or communicated with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by the listener or reader. ... Lyrics are the written words in a song. ... An adage is a short, but memorable saying, which holds some important fact of experience that is considered true by many people, or it has gained some credibility through its long use. ...
The subject here is "awaymessages," the aptly, albeit clunkily named instant-messaging innovation that has captured the fancy not only of Cheung but also of tech-savvy college students everywhere.
An awaymessage, for those not up on online culture, is the instant-messaging (IM) equivalent of the telephone answering machine — it pops up when somebody sends you an IM and you're not available to reply.
While AIM requires users to click on messages one at a time to view them, their program (which works with AIM) lets users read all their awaymessages in one fell swoop.
You can set an awaymessage that automatically replies to people who send you messages when you are away from checking mail for an extended period of time.
That message is sent to each recipient only once, regardless of how many messages that person sends you during the designated away period.
In the Awaymessage text box, enter the awaymessage to be sent, such as "I am currently out of the office and am checking voice mail but not email.
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