OK, here's my view. Many Tengagers, particularly the success stories, have got Skype, which helps them communicate better with their allies and friends etc. However, not all of us do, myself included.
The problem for us is if we choose not to have skype we can only talk to other Tengagers in games, PMs and group games.
My suggestion is for there to be an Instant Messaging function on this site, where you can IM another Tengager. Maybe the button could be on everyone's profile page, just like the add friend button.
When you click the button, that Tengager has a message come up that someone wants to IM, to which they can accept or reject.
An instant messaging system requires a different type of communication than what Tengaged uses now - one that requires more server space and more code to run.
So, is it cool - yes. But when the site bogs down at 4pm every day when Rookies primetime hits, this would be a load the site can not handle - especially once you consider the site is pretty much free to play and ad-free throughout the games. Heck - the site is low enough on storage space that old emails are automatically deleted - instant messaging would be too much right now.
PLENTY of other companies provide instant messaging for free and do it well. There's no reason to add it to this site until other numerous things are addressed - server lag, buggy mini-games, etc etc. Yes, it would be cool - but in the end, people who CHOOSE not to have Skype also CHOOSE not to communicate instantly - especially when you can skype through a browser window with imo or other similar sites.
Improve tengaged - but improve the things that NEED improvement first.
http://www.tengaged.com/blog/rrossrocks/739459/i-made-these