A mechanism for multiple instant messaging (IM) sessions associated with a
single user name is provided. A frontend server receives user login
requests and routes the instant messaging system to a back-end server.
Each login associated with a particular user name is routed to the same
backend server (or IM host). Messages targeted to a recipient having a
plurality of active IM sessions are broadcast to all the active sessions.
Messages targeted to recipients having a single IM session are unicast.