How many of you guys have instant messaging, either via Yahoo, MSN, etc, listed on your GDC account so the symbol is present under your avatar?

Also, those of you who do, how often do you use it to contact and communicate with other GDC members who are online at the same time? If members supported this, an instant message system would be nice, i'd think to quickly talk to fellow members regarding edged weapon or other collectible topics. However, this would require just about all members to choose one of the free services, download the application (which is very small) and agree on one of the services as opposed to each member having fragmented messaging tools.

Is this something the community as a whole would embrace?

I added the Yahoo instant messager application and as you can see, the icon under my avatar reveals to members if i'm online. Subsequently, members can contact directly as well without going through the private message system..the IM option runs in real time and also allows a member to contact me if i'm browsing WAF, or another forum.

Hello Sword-Fish,
I do not have this instant messageing tool. I think either the pm (Private Topic) possibility of the forum or mailing to the adress shown in the Public Profile is enough. Until now these two possibilities worked very effective for myself.
Regards,

IM is great, just not something you want to share with too many people...