Web-ster Support

Instant Messaging

Overview of Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is a quick and easy way to communicate online with friends and family. When you activate instant messaging, you can send and receive text messages from others who also have instant messaging activated. You can chat back and forth in real time--it's like having a telephone conversation in writing, online. Some instant messaging services also include multimedia features such as sharing photos, video, and even voice chat.

Whether you use Dial-Up, DSL, or ISDN, your Web-ster Internet connection is compatible with and fully supports the use of instant messaging programs. The instant messaging services listed in this document are all offered as free services by the companies that publish them, and they are available to download for free on the Internet.

How to Get Started

The most popular instant messaging networks are AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), ICQ (also a part of AOL), Yahoo Instant Messenger, and MSN Messenger.

To download the necessary software and sign up for your instant messaging account, locate the download link on the respective site's page.

Note: These programs are supported by your Web-ster Internet service; however, if you have technical problems with the instant messenger programs, please contact the software's vendor for support.

Using Instant Messaging

Most instant messaging services work the same--you add a person to your messaging list, and when you and your contact are both online, you're able to send messages back and forth.

Send e-mail to friends and ask them what their instant messaging names are, as well as which instant messaging service they're using. You may want to sign up for the same instant messaging service they're using. Be sure to tell your friends your instant messaging name, and also which instant messaging service you decided to use (AOL, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, etc.).

If you have friends that use a different instant messaging service than you, no problem. You can sign up for and use more than one instant messaging service at a time. In fact, if you want to, you can have accounts on all four of the above services and have their programs all running at the same time.