Yahoo! Messenger Tutorials

Using Instant Messaging

Messaging a Contact Messaging a Contact Who Is Not on Your List Messaging Multiple Contacts Using Smart Tags Saving an IM Conversation to a Text File

Messaging a Contact

Instant messaging is the ability to exchange messages in real time with other people over the Internet. Similar to email, instant messages consist of text that you and your contacts send back and forth. But, unlike email, you don't have to wait hours or days for an answer. As the name suggests, messages usually arrive instantly.

The Messenger window displays lists of contacts on its Messenger List and Address Book tabs and provides access to the Instant Message (IM) window shown below. This window is the interface for typing, sending, and reading instant messages.

Tip: To learn more about an area on the image, hold the cursor over the descriptive text.

The Instant Message window Menus to perform a variety of tasks and quick access to Yahoo! Search. Entering a value here opens a web browser with search results. Buttons used to initiate various features, such as playing games or sharing photos. The area that shows the contact's name and various ways to communciate with the contact, such as through email. The display image chosen by the contact. The area that shows both your message and the contact's response. Animated characters that say things out loud when sent to the contact. Tools used to customise the text in your messages. Tools used to show your personality through features such as emoticons and IMVironments. Your display image to show your personality to contacts. The area where you type your message before sending it to the contact. Zoom image icon

You can send instant messages to contacts in your Messenger List or your Messenger address book or to anyone else if you know their Yahoo! ID and if they are Messenger users.

 

Here's How

  1. Begin sending an instant message in one of the following ways:

    • In your Messenger List tab, double-click a contact's name.

      Double-click a contact's name.

    • In the Messenger List, move the cusor over the contact's name, then click the instant message icon in the contact card.

      Click the instant message icon in the contact card.

    • In the Address Book tab, move the cursor over the contact's name and click the IM button.

      Click the IM button next to a contact's name.

    The IM window opens.

    Tip: Without selecting a contact, you can click the instant message icon in the Messenger window's toolbar and open the Send an Instant Message window. In this window you can select an existing contact or enter a new contact and then open the IM window and begin your instant message.

    Click the Send an instant message button without selecting a contact.

  2. In the input area of the IM window, type your message, then press the Enter key on your keyboard or click the Send button.

    Type your message, then click the Send button.

    Note: When a contact is offline, an inline notification in the IM window tells you that the contact will receive the message after signing in.

    The conversation area of the window shows the message you sent. When the contact replies, the response appears here as well.

    The conversation area displays your message and the contact's response.

 

What's Next

You can also instant message a contact directly from your Yahoo! Address Book. See the Related Tutorials for more information.

You can send a message to a contact who isn't on your Messenger List.

 

Words to Know

  • Contact: a person with whom you interact; someone to whom you might want to send an email or instant message.
  • IM: the acronym for instant message.
  • Instant messaging: the ability to exchange messages in real time with other people over the Internet.
  • Messenger List: a list of coworkers, friends, family, and associates who also use Yahoo! Messenger.
  • Yahoo! ID: the name by which a person is known to all Yahoo! networks.