1. A computer-implemented 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, a number of instant messaging sessions associated with a user of said remote computer system, wherein said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system is a total number of display windows currently open for instant messaging sessions on said remote computer system, and wherein said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system is a plurality of instant messaging sessions; 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, responsive to said local computer system user selecting said remote computer system user, said number of instant messaging sessions associated with said user of said remote computer system in a display for said local computer system.