MSN?

[Johnny Reefer]

So, I was asked by someone, the other day, if I was on MSN and that if I was that I should add them and they provided an address. The address had the word hotmail in it, which kinda threw me.

I have not kept up with all the technological advances that have and are coming our way, so now I'm wondering what this MSN is all about.

Do you suppose this person was refering to MSN Instant Messaging?
Or just regular ol' Hotmail?
Is there a difference?
What is "Instant Messaging".
Is "Text Messaging" the same thing?
Is it a cellular phone thing? (I don't carry a cell phone...yet).
Is it a good thang?
How many methods of communicating do we need?
Why don't I just ask the person that asked me? (I did and they did not respond).

Any enlightenment, for this Techno Newbie, on Instant Messaging...what it is/how it works...will be appreciated.

Thanx much,