Getting Started With Yahoo! Messenger for the Web
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What is Yahoo! Messenger for the Web?
Yahoo! Messenger for the Web offers a web-based, instant messaging environment, and anyone, anywhere in the world, with a computer and Internet connection can use it.
Do you use Yahoo! Messenger? If so, then you know of its rich feature set. You also know that you must download the Yahoo! Messenger application (we call this the client) to your computer before you can use it. And, why wouldn’t you? Using Yahoo! Messenger, not only can you instant message your friends, you can actually talk to them through Messenger’s various call features, use plug-ins, view webcams, and more.
But, what do you do when you’re on the road, visiting friends, or at a different computer that doesn’t have the client. Simple, use Yahoo! Messenger for the Web. You won’t have access to all of the client’s features, but, and this is the important part, your Messenger List travels with you so you can chat with your friends anywhere using this online, instant message package. Your friends can send you instant messages and have them waiting for you when you sign in. No need to miss that juicy gossip or delay your replies. Yahoo! Messenger for the Web is the perfect complement to the more robust client. And, using one, you’ll most certainly want to use the other. Of course, you don’t have to use both, but, why wouldn’t you?
If you already use the Yahoo! Messenger client, here are a few things to know when using Yahoo! Messenger for the Web:
- You cannot be signed into the Yahoo! Messenger client and Yahoo! Messenger for the Web at the same time with the same Yahoo! ID. If you sign into one version while signed into the other, the second sign in will be honored, and your initial sign in will be closed.
- In the web version, your only communication option is instant messaging; you won’t find call features or SMS messaging. But, hey, that’s the whole point, isn’t it? A simple communication tool that you can use anywhere you find a computer and an Internet connection.
- Photo sharing, file sharing, and plug-ins are all reserved for the client and not found in the web version.
- A few features carry over to the web version, the main one being your Messenger List which is identical to your client version. You’ll also see your display image. Names that you’ve added to your Ignore List are honored in the web version. Changes to your display image or Ignore List must be made in the client.
What’s Next
All you need to do now is access Yahoo! Messenger for the Web and start instant messaging your friends.
Words to Know
- Display image: a picture or Avatar that represents you in some way and that you share with your contacts during IM conversations.
- Ignore List: a list of people from whom you don’t want to see or hear anything while you’re using Yahoo! Messenger.
- 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 Messenger.
- Yahoo! Messenger: an application that lets you communicate using your voice, text, or other means with one or more people over the Internet in real time (instantly).