I doubt it - the benefit comes in the fact that IM's happen in real time but are saved for anyone not online. Forwarding it through SMS and email just wouldn't

I doubt it - the benefit comes in the fact that IM's happen in real time but are saved for anyone not online. Forwarding it through SMS and email just wouldn't do, I think. If no one had heard of Google Wave, I think they'd be just as scared to start getting lots of emails 'through' it, and no one would actually use the functionality it offers.