How Do I IM People?

With some services, you can send an instant message to friends and family for free.

To IM -- instant message -- someone is to send them a brief message in text form via a network provider. It's what chat rooms and online forums are made of. In the past, instant messaging was limited to the desktop computer and Internet. Now, most mobile phones, personal computers and office communication systems have the option of sending an IM to peers near and far. It won't take you long to master the art of communicating via IM once you choose a method for doing so.

Instructions

1. Choose an online service that will allow you to send IMs. To do this, you'll need to have access to the Internet and then choose which IM service works best for you. A few popular providers are AIM from AOL, Yahoo Messenger and Meebo, all of which are free. You can determine which is best for you based on the features each one has, including mobile capability (to use with your cell phone) and social integration. You can also just choose the service that's used by the people you want to IM.

2. Sign up with the IM provider of your choice and choose your screen name. Like a phone number, your screen name will be the identifier that others use when they want to reach you. Your screen name can consist of your first or last name, a nickname or any other moniker you like. But be mindful of who you'll be communicating with and how you'd like to be perceived. For instance, if you'll use IM to communicate with your supervisor at work, a sexual screen name would be inappropriate.

3. Add friends to your IM account so that you can chat with them. To do this, search for them by screen name. Be careful when adding new friends since it's possible that there are two different people with similar screen names.

4. Select the friend you want to IM and then type your message into the blank field. Press "Enter" or "Send" once you're done and wait for a response. If your friend is not available, you might not receive a response right away. Once they reply, type in a corresponding message and send it whenever you like. Avoid sharing confidential information via IM, such as your address, until you can verify that it's someone you know.

5. Ask your service provider to set up mobile instant messaging if your cell phone is IM capable. This will give you the option of sending and receiving instant messages on your handset when you are away from the computer. Before you agree to this, find out if there are any additional charges for using the service. In some instances, you'll be charged per IM, which can be quite costly.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for indicators that tell whether your friends are online. If they are offline, you can hold off on sending the IM.

References

• PC Magazine: The Best IM Clients
• Microsoft: How to Use Windows Messenger Instant Messaging