Methods and apparatuses for presenting information associated with a target to a user

1. A method comprising:

detecting via a processor a plurality of targets, wherein the plurality of targets represents a listing associated with an instant messaging application;

receiving via a user interface a selection of one of the plurality of targets as a selected target;

detecting via the processor a profile associated with the selected target;

displaying via the user interface information associated with the selected target to a user of an initiating device in a same window as an instant messaging display, wherein the information is referenced in the profile associated with the selected target;

determining via the processor whether the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target is to be shared with the selected target based on a type of the information; and

in response to determining that the information is of a type of information to be shared, sharing with the selected target the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the selected target represents one of a computer, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, and a person.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying the plurality of targets that are accessible via the user interface.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target includes one of a document, a spreadsheet, a graphic, an audio signal, a task, and a calendar entry.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising collecting the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target from multiple sources.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein each of the multiple sources include one of a CRM database, a document management system, and an electronic mail application.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising editing the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target and forming edited information, wherein the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target is stored in multiple sources.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising storing the edited information in each respective source corresponding with the edited information.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store a plurality of software modules executable by the processor, the software modules including,

a target detection module configured to detect a plurality of targets, wherein the plurality of targets represents a listing associated with an instant messaging application;

a profile manager module configured to track a profile, wherein the profile includes a representation of information that corresponds to a target and wherein the information is located within multiple sources,

an interface module configured to receive a selection of one of the plurality of targets as a selected target and to display information associated with the selected target to a user of an initiating device in a same window as an instant messaging display, wherein the information is referenced in the profile associated with the selected target, and

an access module configured to determine whether the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target is to be shared with the selected target based on a type of the information,

wherein, in response to a determination that the information is of a type of information to be shared, the interface module is further configured to share with the selected target the information referenced in the profile associated with the selected target.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the software modules further include a storage module configured to store the profile.