1. A method for providing a local computer user with detailed activity information regarding instant messaging sessions of remote users, comprising:. sensing, at a remote computer system, the number of instant messaging sessions associated with a user of said remote computer system; conveying said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system from said remote computer system to an awareness server application process; conveying said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system from said awareness server application to an awareness client application process executing on a local computer system; and presenting, by said awareness client application process, said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system in a display for said local computer system.