A survey of Internet users shows that the Chinese rank first in the world when it comes to online chatting, with each Internet user or netizen registering on average seven chatroom accounts.

Results of the survey, jointly conducted by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), Analysis International, iResearch and CCW Research, show that the Chinese are also the world's most active online instant messengers.

"China has nearly 100 million IM (instant messaging) users and they registered 828.6 million IM accounts in the second quarter of 2006 alone. Some 295 million of those accounts remain active," according to the survey.

CNNIC data shows that China has about 123 million Internet users, who each have on average registered 6.7 IM accounts.

The survey also shows that more than 40 percent of online chatters use IM for work purposes.

About 80 percent of respondents said they love online voice chatting, more than 50 percent often chat through video and more than 40 percent like online real-time conferencing.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)