Instant messaging, that rat-a-tat chat technology that is catching up toe-mail in popularity, still hasn't overcome a critical hurdle that e-mail cleared years ago: utter incompatibility among rival brands.

FORBES: Instant Headache

China, Brazil, and India have thus initiated simultaneous catching-up processes in industry, science and technology.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

While deterrent technology is catching up with these networks, violators switch to one-click host sites, like SockShare or PutLocker, which allow users to stream the media directly from the internet.

FORBES: Education Is Best Weapon Against Web Piracy, not SOPA

Not only are the Chinese catching up, but most of the technology underneath the Chinese-designed shells is foreign.

ECONOMIST: Cellular handsets: The local touch | The

Wal-Mart looks keen on catching up with the latest trends in the technology and consumer sectors.

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