Tegic is close to trialing WIM services with network operators. HiddenMind is another wireless instant messaging developer that is profiled in the SMS Application Developers from the USA section below. Wireless Instant messaging services can be delivered using simple SMS or with WAP or SIM Application Toolkit microbrowsers. These menu systems enable easier management of privacy, reply, canned messages etc. The irony is that the USA where Instant Messaging is most widely used has a mobile phone culture that involves switching your mobile phone off for most of the time, switching the phone on primarily when in the car.
Technology is only a means to an end- user culture and behavior are much more important.
Wireless Instant Messaging has not yet been widely deployed over mobile networks. However, Mobile Streams expects this situation to change in next 18 months and for WIM to be a significant generator of mobile messaging traffic.