Without instant messaging through Yahoo Messenger and other services, teens would lose a vital social communications tool, and the rest of us wouldn't have an easy way to send and receive messages quickly from our computers or mobile phones.
While Yahoo Inc. wan't the first Internet service provider to offer free instant messaging, it is one of the Web's most popular IM services. Launched in 1999, Yahoo Messenger has more than an estimated 94 million users who use to exchange instant messages with other Yahoo, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger or Lotus Sametime users [sources: Time Warner and PC World]. Once you download Yahoo Messenger software and complete the Yahoo Messenger sign in, you'll find the service also does a lot more. You can, for example, access contacts and messages anywhere from any Web browser, communicate in any of 40 languages and share photos and large-file Web video.
Before we delve further into Yahoo Messenger, let's take a quick look at instant messaging. What exactly is it? Instant messaging allows you to carry on a conversation with someone else via your personal computer. You type in a message, which then travels in digital form over the Internet from your computer through the provider's server to the other person's computer. Within a few seconds, the message appears in an IM window on the recipient's computer screen. That person reads the message and types back a response. Small, separate IM windows on the screen allow you to carry on conversations with several different people at a time. For more information about instant messaging, check out How Instant Messaging Works.
When e-mail contact isn't fast or convenient enough, Internet users turn to IM. Many teens use IM daily to talk to five or six friends at a time while simultaneously listening to music, doing homework and talking on their cell phone.
Teens aren't the only group found IM handy. This communications tool also works for business colleagues checking details with sales reps on the road, friends trying to find a time to talk at length and mobile phone users who need to check in with the office or contact each other. The number of IM users worldwide was estimated at 461 million in 2007 and is expected to reach 711 million by 2011, according to the Radicati Group, a market research firm specializing in messaging and collaboration technologies.
Next, let's see how easy it's to get started with Yahoo Messenger.
 Image courtesy of Yahoo Yahoo messenger allows friends to chat online. |
While Yahoo Inc. wan't the first Internet service provider to offer free instant messaging, it is one of the Web's most popular IM services. Launched in 1999, Yahoo Messenger has more than an estimated 94 million users who use to exchange instant messages with other Yahoo, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger or Lotus Sametime users [sources: Time Warner and PC World]. Once you download Yahoo Messenger software and complete the Yahoo Messenger sign in, you'll find the service also does a lot more. You can, for example, access contacts and messages anywhere from any Web browser, communicate in any of 40 languages and share photos and large-file Web video.
Before we delve further into Yahoo Messenger, let's take a quick look at instant messaging. What exactly is it? Instant messaging allows you to carry on a conversation with someone else via your personal computer. You type in a message, which then travels in digital form over the Internet from your computer through the provider's server to the other person's computer. Within a few seconds, the message appears in an IM window on the recipient's computer screen. That person reads the message and types back a response. Small, separate IM windows on the screen allow you to carry on conversations with several different people at a time. For more information about instant messaging, check out How Instant Messaging Works.
When e-mail contact isn't fast or convenient enough, Internet users turn to IM. Many teens use IM daily to talk to five or six friends at a time while simultaneously listening to music, doing homework and talking on their cell phone.
Teens aren't the only group found IM handy. This communications tool also works for business colleagues checking details with sales reps on the road, friends trying to find a time to talk at length and mobile phone users who need to check in with the office or contact each other. The number of IM users worldwide was estimated at 461 million in 2007 and is expected to reach 711 million by 2011, according to the Radicati Group, a market research firm specializing in messaging and collaboration technologies.
Next, let's see how easy it's to get started with Yahoo Messenger.
Yahoo Messenger Basics
Yahoo Messenger basics start with a visit to the Yahoo Web site. You'll need to download Yahoo Messenger software and complete the Yahoo Messenger sign up before you can use the free instant messaging service to IM your friends or colleagues, and you'll need to set up a messenger list. Here's how to set it up:
- Go to Yahoo Messenger, and click on "download now" to download the Yahoo Messenger software.
- Install the software on your computer, following specific directions for your operating system (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac or Unix).
- If you don't already have a Yahoo account, sign up for a Yahoo ID. You'll be asked for your name, gender, country, ZIP code and e-mail address. You'll also need to provide your birthday, since Yahoo Messenger isn't available to anyone age 12 or under. After that, you select an ID -- a name to use when you IM -- and a password. You'll also be asked to select and answer a security question (like your first car model or pet's name) that can be used for identification if you forget your password. Click acceptance of the terms of service and privacy policy, and your account will be set up.
- Now, you're ready to sign in. Go to http://www.yahoo.com, and click on the smiling yellow Yahoo Messenger button near the upper right corner of the screen. You'll see a sign-in screen next. Just enter your Yahoo ID name and password, hit the "sign in" button and you'll be signed in.
If you've forgotten your ID or password, click on the statement below the "sign in" button. After you answer some questions to verify your identity, you'll be sent your ID by e-mail or given the option of selecting a new password.
Image courtesy of Yahoo
Lists allow users to see which friends are on and off line.
To sign out when you're done, just click on the words "sign out" near the upper right of the screen page. - While you're signed in, you'll see your messenger list at the left of the screen. This is where you can list up to 300 friends, relatives, co-workers and others that you want to IM with. To add a name, click "Add" at the bottom of the messenger list, and then click "Yahoo Contact" or "Windows Live Contact." Type or paste the person's Yahoo or Windows Live ID in the box that opens at the top of your messenger list. To finish, type "Enter." Contacts receive an invitation with your request to add them to your list. If they say no, their names won't appear on your list. You can create groups within your messenger list by clicking on the Contacts menu, selecting "Organize Messenger Group" and then "Create New Group." Then just drop and drag contacts' names into the group.
- To tell whether your contacts are available to talk, check the icon that appears in front of their names on the list. A yellow circle shows they're online and available to talk, while a blank circle means they're not available.
- You can indicate your own availability by changing the icon near your ID at the top of the messenger list. Beyond clicking "available," you have choices like "busy," "stepped out" or "on the phone" -- or the option of writing your own message. By choosing "invisible," you can talk or work online while appearing to be offline.
Using Yahoo Messenger
Using Yahoo Messenger to send or receive messages is easy to learn. Yahoo offers a straightforward process and even has online help to provide tips on message formatting, sending files and other parts of the IM process. Let's go through the basics related to messages themselves.
Sending an instant message
To send a message to someone on your messenger list, start by clicking on their name in the list or typing a few letters of their ID in "Find Contacts." Click their name from the list that appears, type your message in the space below the conversation window and click on "Send" or hit the Enter key.
For someone not on your list, type the ID in the "Find Contacts" box, press "Enter" and type your message the same as before. However, you won't be able to exchange messages if the person doesn't have Yahoo or Windows Live.
To send the same message to more than one person, hold down the Control key while clicking on names in your messenger list that you want to receive the message. Then click on the Actions menu, select "Send an Instant Message" and type and send your message as usual.
If you send an IM to someone who is offline, the message will pop up as soon as they sign back in.
Formatting a message
Why just send straight text when you can be more creative? Yahoo Messenger offers you options like sending messages in different fonts and colors. Pull-down menus below the conversation window let you format the text and message for the look you want.
You also can add emoticons for emphasis in the text. These are faces made of type that can express emotions ranging from happy to sad to puzzled. Just place the cursor where you want the emoticon in the text and then click on any of the 25 options from the pull-down menu.
Receiving a message and responding
You'll hear an alert sound when someone sends a message. Type your response as before and click on "Send" or hit "Enter." You can mute the alert by clicking on the speaker icon above the conversation window.
Sending a file or photo
To send a document or a photo, just drop and drag the document into the conversation window. This works even if the person is offline. The person receiving the file will be asked to save or decline it. Another option during a conversation is to click the Actions menu and then choose "Send a File." You can send a file as big as 1GB (or 2GB with Yahoo Messenger 9.0).
For up to 300 photos, you can use photo sharing. Yahoo Messenger will ask if you want to start a session and invite the other person to join in. If the other person accepts the files, the images will appear in a side panel for both of you to see.
Message archiving
Yahoo Messenger allows you to save, store and search your instant messages. The encrypted archives you create can only be viewed with your Yahoo ID on your computer. To set up a message archive:
To learn about more features of Yahoo Messenger, go to the next page.
Next>>
 © Michael Gottschalk/AFP/Getty Images Many Yahoo users rely on Yahoo Messenger to chat online with friends. |
To send a message to someone on your messenger list, start by clicking on their name in the list or typing a few letters of their ID in "Find Contacts." Click their name from the list that appears, type your message in the space below the conversation window and click on "Send" or hit the Enter key.
For someone not on your list, type the ID in the "Find Contacts" box, press "Enter" and type your message the same as before. However, you won't be able to exchange messages if the person doesn't have Yahoo or Windows Live.
To send the same message to more than one person, hold down the Control key while clicking on names in your messenger list that you want to receive the message. Then click on the Actions menu, select "Send an Instant Message" and type and send your message as usual.
If you send an IM to someone who is offline, the message will pop up as soon as they sign back in.
Formatting a message
Why just send straight text when you can be more creative? Yahoo Messenger offers you options like sending messages in different fonts and colors. Pull-down menus below the conversation window let you format the text and message for the look you want.
You also can add emoticons for emphasis in the text. These are faces made of type that can express emotions ranging from happy to sad to puzzled. Just place the cursor where you want the emoticon in the text and then click on any of the 25 options from the pull-down menu.
Receiving a message and responding
You'll hear an alert sound when someone sends a message. Type your response as before and click on "Send" or hit "Enter." You can mute the alert by clicking on the speaker icon above the conversation window.
Sending a file or photo
To send a document or a photo, just drop and drag the document into the conversation window. This works even if the person is offline. The person receiving the file will be asked to save or decline it. Another option during a conversation is to click the Actions menu and then choose "Send a File." You can send a file as big as 1GB (or 2GB with Yahoo Messenger 9.0).
For up to 300 photos, you can use photo sharing. Yahoo Messenger will ask if you want to start a session and invite the other person to join in. If the other person accepts the files, the images will appear in a side panel for both of you to see.
Message archiving
Yahoo Messenger allows you to save, store and search your instant messages. The encrypted archives you create can only be viewed with your Yahoo ID on your computer. To set up a message archive:
- Click on the Messenger menu, select "Preferences" and click on "Archive."
- Choose one of the options for archiving messages.
- Click the "OK" button.
To learn about more features of Yahoo Messenger, go to the next page.
Next>>
