We think you have already acquainted with icons, their notion and purposes of their appliance. You surely know that there is a great deal of them according to the aim of their usage. They can be A-I-M Icons, Emotion, Favicons, moving patterns and so on. But today we are going to make you acquainted with one more icon type. It is well known as Buddy icons. This icon kind is used mainly in many instant messaging (IM) programs in such as America Online Instant, Yahoo Messenger and Microsoft Support Network Messenger. The icons of this type can be used in any format as BMP, XBM, GIF, ICO or GIF. As for dimensions they are more frequently images of 50x50 pixels. 

As any other graphic images buddy icons can be static or dynamic that is immovable or Animated Icons. As for the size of these images it weights no more than 7160 bytes. Firstly these icons were applied by the AOL Instant Messenger program and people of this community gave them title “buddy icons”. 

Any icon type can be found on various portals. Some of them require money for their products but the greater deal of them operates absolutely free for you. You can download limitless number of icons saving your money and time.  

Today a lot of people take advantages of communication via I-net. Almost all users became concerned about such opportunity to deal with their distant friends and that’s why they try to adorn their messages as bright as it’s possible. When dealing in any chat or forum people exchange messages typing words with the help of keyboard. After sending the e-mail takes its place in the window where chat conversation goes on.   

But today the online dealing with friends and relatives became more enliven and bright. It is all due to the usage of icons which replace ordinary words. It is more pleasant to receive smile or animated image which bears the same information. One difference lies in the fact that the words should be read but icons must be perceived with our eyes. For example instead of words “I love you” to receive icon which sends you a great deal of hearts or kisses will be more pleasant.

Today the aim icons as we call them buddy icons are of great popularity. It is so because a lot of people appreciated online communication and now they try to beautify it in any possible way. 
  Assign Icons are the best way not only to report some information but also your attitude to it or your mood on the moment of message sending. 

Every user who sends messages via IM programs has already rich experience in buddy icon usage. It is so because it is more interesting to send vivid icons than just phrases in black color. 
The buddy icons gained their popularity only due to their effects which substitute words and thanks to their saturated colors. The users growing interest to this group of icons can be demonstrated by the number of their downloadings from Net.

The amount of buddy icon requests in any search engine is really great. The greater deal of buddy icons users are predominantly young people who used to send these icons to friends having reasons for it and without them.