Abstract: A method and system for managing identity overload and the private/public availability of an instant messaging address. For every internal address (Useri@E) in a business network, (A) declaring a generic internal address (Sales@E) in a list of contact addresses and, following transmission (B) by an external client (Ext@X) of a request to the generic internal address (Sales@E), transmitting the request to each internal address (Useri@E) of the group, then upon a reply (D) to this request at the external address (Ext@X) by one of the internal addresses (User1@E) belonging to the group, transmitting a reply notification to the other internal addresses (Userj?1@E). This allows the other internal addresses (Userj?1@E) to be kept free for any further request which is addressed.