1. A method of instant messaging (IM) conversation management in a communication apparatus comprising: maintaining a first list of at least one IM conversation in a graphical user interface (GUI) for engaging in a plurality of IM conversations; monitoring conversation activity for the IM conversations in the first list; automatically removing a particular IM conversation from the first list in response to the conversation activity monitored, the particular IM conversation being automatically removed after an idle period of conversation activity and only if all messages of the particular IM conversation are read; archiving the particular IM conversation to an IM conversation archive for making the particular IM conversation accessible via the GUI; and providing a second list of at least one archived IM conversation in said GUI separate from said first list for accessing archived conversations of the IM conversation archive.