Instant messaging began in the late 1990s with programs like ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger that allowed users to communicate in real-time over the internet. While initially popular among consumers, businesses were wary due to concerns about lost productivity and security. However, as users began using IM for work collaboration, businesses recognized it as a potential communications tool. This led vendors to develop enterprise instant messaging solutions that integrated with corporate directories and provided security and logging features. Widespread adoption of IM in businesses and organizations still faces challenges around user training, integration with other systems, and ensuring interoperability and open standards.