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Using Instant Messaging

Messaging a ContactMessaging Multiple ContactsUsing Smart TagsForwarding IMs to Your MobileSaving an IM Conversation to a Text File

Messaging Multiple Contacts

Do you want to invite your department to enjoy cake in the break room? How about letting your co-workers know about an imminent conference call. You can send the same instant message to more than one person at the same time.

Note: You can’t include Windows Live™ Messenger contacts in a group message.

When you message multiple contacts, you write your first message in the Send Message to Group window, which includes all of the selected contacts. When you click the Send button, each contact receives your message. A separate conversation window opens on your screen for each reply, and you continue your conversation with each individual separately from the others. You’re no longer messaging the group as a whole.

 

Here’s How

  1. In your Messenger List, select two or more contacts and groups, then right click and select Instant Message for selected contacts, Broadcast an IM to this Group for selected groups, or Broadcast an IM to These Pingbox Visitors for a selected Pingbox™ group. Learn more

    Tip: When making multiple selections, Shift-click to select a range, or Ctrl-click to select randomly.

    Select one or more contact names or groups, then right click and select Instant Message, Broadcast an IM to this Group, or Broadcast an IM to These Pingbox Visitors.

    The Send Message to Group window opens.

  2. In the Group window, type your message, then click the Send button.

    Type a message, then click the Send button.

    A separate conversation window opens for each contact who responds.

 

What’s Next

Instant messages include smart tags, a feature that identifies phone numbers and email addresses. Learn how to use smart tags to add information to your address book or as another way to initiate a communication.

 

Help Topics

 
 

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.
  • Group: one or more contacts that you organize together under one unique name, similar to an email list. By default, Yahoo! Messenger adds contacts to the "Friends" group included in the application.
  • Messenger List: the main part of the Contact List in Yahoo! Messenger. The Messenger List includes the contacts with whom you communicate most often.
  • Pingbox group: a unique Messenger List group that lists visitors to the Web page to which you added a Pingbox.
  • Smart tag: information, such as a phone number or email address, found in an instant message and underscored for your use. Clicking a smart tag allows you to act on the information, such as sending a text message to a mobile phone number, sending an email to an email address, or adding the information to your address book.
  • Windows Live™ Messenger: Microsoft® Windows’ free instant messaging application.

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