Yahoo! Messenger Tutorials

Placing PC to PC Calls

Initiating a Call Placing a Call on Hold Leaving a Voice Message Ending a Call

Initiating a Call

You can use Yahoo! Messenger to place an Internet call from your PC to another Messenger user's PC anywhere on the Internet.

Tip: Before you try to initiate or accept a call, use the Call Setup Assistant, as described in the Managing PC to PC Calls 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 different ways:

    • If the contact you wish to call is listed on your Messenger List, select the contact's name, and then click the Call computer button on the Messenger toolbar.

      Select a contact and click the Call computer button.

    • Click the Call computer button on a friend's contact card.

      Click the Call computer button on a friend's contact card.

    • You can click the Call computer button without selecting a name, or select Call Computer from the Actions menu to open the Call Computer window. Then select the contact of your choice, and click the OK button.

      Select a contact and click OK.

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

      Click the Call button.

    All of these actions open the IM window (if it is not already open) in calling mode, and the timer begins timing the call. The End Call button allows you to end the call at any time.

    The IM window during a call

  2. Your contact can accept or decline the call or accept instant messaging (IM) only. If your contact is away from the computer or just does nothing, the result is the same as declining the call.

    Notification 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: After several rings, a prompt invites you to record a voice message. Simply start speaking after the tone, just as you do with telephone voicemail.
    • IM Only: The call ends, and you return to the IM window in conversation mode. You and you contact can type messages as usual.

 

What's Next

If you are interrupted while you are talking, you can put your contact on hold.

 

Words to Know

  • Contact: a person with whom you interact; someone to whom you might want to send an email or instant 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 Yahoo! Messenger.
  • Prompt: a message that guides the user to take some action, such as "Please leave a message after the tone."
  • Voice message: a message left in the caller's own voice for the intended recipient to listen to later.