Help With Video Chat: AIM to iChat

Use AIM to video chat with friends on the Mac's iChat program.

Users of Apple computer products with the Mac OS X operating system can connect their AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account to connect with iChat and video chat. Avoid problems by selecting the proper account, making sure your buddy list is set up correctly and letting other users know you are available for video chatting.

Select AIM Account

iChat allows AIM users to use more than one account. To switch from one account to another, click the iChat icon on the desktop, click iChat from the drop-down list, scroll down to Accounts. There will be a check mark next to the active account. Click on the account you would like to use.

AIM Availability on iChat

Your AIM Buddy List displays to other users if you're free to chat or busy on a phone call, for example. The green icon means you're "Available" and the red icon signifies that you're "Away." Choose "Invisible" to keep your status private and other AIM users won't know if you are online.

Start and End Video Chat

After you click the icon for iChat, your AIM buddy list will appear. A green camera icon will appear next to the name of a buddy who is available to video chat. Click the green camera and wait for them to accept your request to video chat.

To end the video chat, click the red button in the top left corner of the video box.

References

• Mac OS X: iChat