IM-convenience or bother?

I did establish a google talk account today. I am familiar with instant messaging when I had an AOL account. More often than not I was a bit annoyed being interrupted when I was online. However, I can see the value particularly for family members who live far away. It really saves on the telephone bill! Also, if you happen to catch a staff member available, you can get instant feedback. Of course, everything has pros and cons. I would not use this frequently. It was a bit cumbersome to sign up and then try to get back on.