Using PC-to-PC Calling

Placing a PC-to-PC Call Leaving a Voice Message Receiving a PC-to-PC Call Placing a Call on Hold

Placing a PC-to-PC Call

You can place an Internet call from your PC to another Messenger user’s PC anywhere in the world, and at no cost.

Tips:

You can’t place PC-to-PC calls with Windows Live™ Messenger contacts.

If you haven’t already done so, use the Call Setup Assistant, as described in the Introducing Yahoo! Messenger’s Call Features tutorial, to be sure that your microphone and speakers are set up properly.

 

Here’s How

  1. You can initiate a PC-to-PC call in several ways:

    • Begin typing the person’s name in the Contact Search Bar. If the name is in your Messenger List, Messenger displays the full name and communication options. Select Call Computer from the pull-down list.

      Type a name in the Contact Search Bar, then select Call Computer.

      Tip: If the person you want to call isn’t in your list, type the person’s Yahoo! ID, then select Call Computer from the pull-down list. Some Yahoo! IDs have domains other than @yahoo.com, such as @sbcglobal.net or @verizon.net. When typing these IDs, be sure to add the full domain (person1@sbcglobal.net, person2@verizon.net). You don’t need to type the @yahoo.com domain. The person must have Messenger 7 or higher installed to receive your call or for you to leave a message.

      Type the person's Yahoo! ID.

    • Click the Phone icon on a friend’s contact card.

      Click the Phone icon.

    • If you’re already having an IM conversation with the contact you want to call, click the Call button in your IM window.

      Click the Call button.

    All of these actions open the IM window (if it isn’t already open) in calling mode, and the timer begins timing the call.

    The IM window shows the status of the call.

  2. Your contact can accept or decline the call or accept instant messaging (IM) only.

    A notification indicates that a call is coming in.

    If your contact clicks:

    • Accept: The connection is made, and you can begin talking just like you do on the telephone.

    • Decline: The call isn’t completed. You’ll hear several rings, and then a prompt invites you to record a voice message. Start speaking after the tone.

      If your contact is away from the computer or just does nothing, the result is the same as declining the call.

    • IM Only: The call ends, and you return to the IM window in conversation mode. You and your contact can type messages as usual.

    Tip: If the person you’re calling has Open Talk enabled, and she isn’t connected to another call, you’ll hear one ring and then Messenger will automatically connect you without waiting for the other person to accept. She won’t even see the incoming call popup window. You can begin talking just as if she accepted the call.

  3. If the contact accepts the call, the IM window continues to time the call.

  4. When you’re finished talking, click the End Call button.

    Click the End Call button.

    The call is disconnected, and the IM window returns to conversation mode, A message informs you of the length of the call along with the time and date.

    A message informs you of the calls length.

 

What’s Next

If you’re interrupted while talking, you can put your contact on hold. If the person you’re calling isn’t available, you can leave a voice message.

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Words to Know

  • Contact: a person with whom you interact; someone to whom you might want to send an email, instant message, or text message.
  • Conversation: an exchange of instant messages between you and a contact.
  • IM: the acronym for instant message.
  • Messenger List: a list of coworkers, friends, family, and associates who also use Messenger.
  • Open Talk: a Messenger feature that lets your friends connect a PC-to-PC call to your PC without waiting for you to accept the call.
  • PC-to-PC calling: the ability to call another person’s computer from your computer; similar to placing a phone call. Both you and the person you are calling must have a Messenger ID and be logged into Messenger.
  • Prompt: a message that guides the user to take some action, such as "Please leave a message after the tone."
  • Voicemail: a message left in the caller’s own voice for the intended recipient to listen to later.
  • Windows Live™ Messenger: Microsoft® Windows’ free instant messaging application.
  • Yahoo! ID: the name by which a person is known to all Yahoo! networks.