1. A collaborative computing method comprising the steps of: providing a collaborative computing system comprising at least one instant messaging client, the collaborative computing system including presence awareness features that automatically detect online entities that are logged into the collaborative computing system; initializing said instant messaging client within a graphical user interface of said collaborative computing system; displaying within the graphical user interface an availability list consisting of the detected online entities; establishing at least one customizable search limitation for a search engine, said search limitation preventing users other than users belonging to a predetermined class of users from accessing data records pertaining to one or more predetermined online entities and preventing selected users from receiving data indicating an online presence of one or more predetermined online entities; receiving a search initializing action from said graphical user interface; responsive to said receiving step, presenting a search view having search input fields within said graphical user interface; receiving input via said input fields that specifies a customized search pattern; subject to said at least one search limitation, searching by the search engine at least one record source of the online entities in the availability list for online entities that satisfy said customized search pattern using the presence awareness features; displaying a search result from said searching step within said graphical user interface; selecting at least one of the online entities displayed in the search result; and establishing a software-enhanced communication including at least one communication other than instant messaging related communications between a user of the instant messaging client and the selected online entity.