- Twenty percent say they currently enjoy, or would like to try, making live voice calls to other computers, landlines and cell phones directly from their IM service. Another 12 percent say they would be interested in an IM-based voice-over-IP (VoIP) service that could replace their primary household phone line.

- In Seattle, 47 percent of at-work IM users are most likely to say things in an instant message that they wouldn't document in an e-mail message.

- More than three in four at-work IM users, 77 percent, said that instant messaging has had a positive impact on their work lives. In addition, 25 percent of at-work IMers say that instant messaging enables them to check in on their children during the workday, providing them with greater peace of mind.

Among those who use instant messaging for business purposes, 13 percent say they have their IM screen name printed on their business cards, while 6 percent say they write it on the business cards they exchange.

"Instant messaging is a part of everyday life, with more and more people using their IM service as a starting point for all communications, from sending mobile messages to friends on cell phones to placing VoIP-based phone calls," Palihapitiya said in the statement.