Premium instant messaging space

An information processing system for monetizing on-line communications, comprising:

• a processor device;
• and
• a memory with computer-executable instructions stored therein, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor device, performing operations comprising:
• assigning a price to become an instant message buddy of a first instant message account holder associated with expertise in a first topic using current trending data, wherein assigning the price comprises assigning a first price as the assigned price responsive to the current trending data indicating that a current time is associated with a first characteristic corresponding to the first topic and assigning a second price less than the first price as the assigned price responsive to the current trending data indicating that the current time is not associated with the first characteristic;
• providing at a first time, to a first user, a first instance of an instant message board comprising a first instance of a list of instant message buddies, a first instance of a message space for receiving messages and inputting messages, and a first instance of a ticker tape displaying the assigned price to become an instant message buddy of the first instant message account holder and a first indicator of whether the assigned price is increasing or decreasing, and a third price to become an instant message buddy of a second instant message account holder and a second indicator of whether the third price is increasing or decreasing, the first instance of the ticker tape not displaying a price to become an instant message buddy of a third instant message account holder;
• responsive to receiving a selection of at least part of the first instance of the ticker tape:
• providing a first instance of a graphical user interface for bidding on instant message space associated with at least one of the first instant message account holder or the second instant message account holder;
• and
• providing a first instance of a first input tool on the first instance of the graphical user interface enabling the first user to select an instant message account holder from a plurality of instant message account holders including the first instant message account holder and the second instant message account holder but not including the third instant message account holder;
• providing at a second time, to a second user, a second instance of the instant message board comprising a second instance of the list of instant message buddies, a second instance of the message space for receiving messages and inputting messages, and a second instance of the ticker tape displaying a fourth price to become an instant message buddy of the second instant message account holder and a third indicator of whether the fourth price is increasing or decreasing, and a fifth price to become an instant message buddy of the third instant message account holder and a fourth indicator of whether the fifth price is increasing or decreasing, the second instance of the ticker tape not displaying a price to become an instant message buddy of the first instant message account holder;
• and
• responsive to receiving a selection of at least part of the second instance of the ticker tape:
• providing a second instance of the graphical user interface for bidding on instant message space associated with at least one of the second instant message account holder or the third instant message account holder;
• and
• providing a second instance of the first input tool on the second instance of the graphical user interface enabling the second user to select an instant message account holder from a plurality of instant message account holders including the second instant message account holder and the third instant message account holder but not including the first instant message account holder.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with computer-executable instructions stored therein, the instructions causing a computer to perform:

• receiving a request associated with a first instant message account holder associated with expertise in a first topic;
• assigning a price to become an instant message buddy of the first instant message account holder using current trending data, wherein assigning the price comprises assigning a first price as the assigned price responsive to the current trending data indicating that a current time is associated with a first characteristic corresponding to the first topic and assigning a second price less than the first price as the assigned price responsive to the current trending data indicating that the current time is not associated with the first characteristic;
• providing, to a user, an instant message board comprising a list of instant message buddies, a message space for receiving messages and inputting messages, and a ticker tape displaying the assigned price to become an instant message buddy of the first instant message account holder and a first indicator of whether the assigned price is increasing or decreasing, and a third price to become an instant message buddy of a second instant message account holder and a second indicator of whether the third price is increasing or decreasing;
• and
• responsive to receiving a selection of at least part of the ticker tape:
• providing a graphical user interface for bidding on instant message space associated with at least one of the first instant message account holder or the second instant message account holder;
• providing an input tool on the graphical user interface enabling the user to submit a bid offer associated with at least one of the first instant message account holder or the second instant message account holder;
• and
• automatically populating the input tool with a current price associated with at least one of the first instant message account holder or the second instant message account holder.