Instant messengers becoming medium of choice

The researches show that more and more people are using Instant Messengers instead of emails.
Is the faster communication the only reason? Maybe the instant messaging is more like a live meeting between the people and this is really important for most of them.

This info is part of the results of the AOL's survey:

"Instant messaging is overtaking email as the preferred way to
communicate, especially among teens and young adults. Overall,
IM's are up 19 percent year over year, with many Americans sending
as many, if not more, IM's than they do emails, according to
AOL's Instant Messaging Trends Survey.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents say they send as many or more
IM's than emails. But for teens and young adults that number is
vastly higher with two-thrids reporting they send more IM's than
emails, up from 49 percent last year.

At work, 58 percent of IM users send instant messages to
colleagues for answers to questions, 49 percent to make business
decisions, and 29 percent use IM to interact with customers or
clients. Twelve percent have used IM to avoid a difficult
face-to-face conversation. "

Source: WebProNews