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Yahoo! Messenger New User Workshop Transcript

Below is the complete transcript from the Yahoo! Messenger New User Workshop, held on 08/25/08. Be sure to check the Messenger Blog for upcoming Workshop times and details.

YahooMod: Hey guys, thanks for joining us! We’ll get started in just a minute!
YahooMod: Hi everyone! Thanks for joining us for the Yahoo! Messenger New User Workshop. We’re so excited to have you here. Feel free to submit your questions using the box below.
YahooMod: We have several members of the Yahoo! Messenger team here, ready to answer your questions and share the tips and tricks within Messenger.
YahooMod: If you miss any of the conversation, be sure to check out the “transcript” link up at the top to read a full recap of the chat!
YahooMod: Let’s get started!

G-235003693: How do I get new friends in yahoo messenger?
JoeSmiley: It’s easy to get your friends using Messenger by either inviting them to join you, or by searching to find out which friends of yours are already on Messenger.
JoeSmiley: To do this from 9.0, go up to the Contacts menu, and then click “Import Contacts”– from here, you can find out which of your friends already have a Messenger account (this feature is also available on our website at http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite). You can also invite your friends to join Yahoo! Messenger by going to Contacts>Invite People to Join, to ask your friends to meet you on Yahoo! Messenger.

benjamin: how can i get in to any chat room
JoeSmiley: To get into a chat room, start by going to the Messenger menu and selecting “Yahoo! Chat”. Then click “Join a room”. Every chat room requires that you enter a “captcha” code first, to verify your ID. Be sure to check out the tips for chatting safely prior to entering a chat room: http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/chatrooms

liqha1: Help! How do I sign up for yahoo instant messenger?
YMessengerMelissa: To use Yahoo! Messenger you’ll first need a Yahoo! ID. You can do this after you download Messenger, or you can create an ID ahead of time.
YMessengerMelissa: To sign up for a new account or download the latest version of Messenger, go to: http://messenger.yahoo.com

G-238526868: I am new to Yahoo, chat, Messenger and web cam.. sorry, I know nothing. My daughter is in school. We both have Yahoo, Webcams, email, cell phones and wireless internet. My question is how can we both sign-up to be able to see and talk to each other via internet? also I wanted to download to my webcam but dont know if I am beta or not. New computer (3 days) has Vista. How can I find out?
JoeSmiley: Currently the Vista version does not offer users the option of using their Webcam. If you’re running a Vista system and want to use a webcam, try downloading the new 9.0 beta for XP instead http://messenger.yahoo.com/download/win/ and click on Messenger>My Webcam to walk through the setup process.
JoeSmiley: Once you’re both set up, just click on your daughter’s screen name in your contact list and click on the webcam icon in the bottom right corner of your IM window (next to the paperclip icon) to start sharing!

sandybruschi: We have multiple yahoo accounts. How can we be on IM w/ all @ once?
MessengerBlogSarah: Sandybruschi, unfortunately you can only be logged into one Yahoo! ID per computer at a time.

YMessengerMelissa: These are great questions, guys!

mynameisfrancesco: I keep getting emails about Yahoo charging people to use messenger. Is yahoo going to start charging we the people?
JoeSmiley: Nope! Yahoo! has no plans at this time to start charging users for the current service you’re using. If you receive a message or IM saying that you need to pay for your screen name or to use Yahoo! be sure to report it to Customer Care/Abuse as this isn’t true!

angelbabiey: I love the smileys. How do I get new smileys?
MessengerBlogSarah: Angelbabiey, we periodically release new smileys within the Yahoo! Messenger product, but you can always check out the “secret smileys” or hidden emoticons by going here: http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/hiddenemoticons
MessengerBlogSarah: Don’t forget that in the new 9.0, you can include smileys in your status message– simply type them right into your message and watch them appear!

blkhondaex: What does the little crown next to an ID mean?
MessengerBlogSarah: bikhondaex – If you see a crown next to your friend’s name, it means they are a Yahoo! Messenger Power User. To find out more about that, visit http://messenger.yahoo.com/powerusers/about

mvandrei007: Hi, How can I become Yahoo PowerUser?
YMessengerMelissa: Hey mvandrei007. To become a Power User, keep using Messenger! We select new Power Users each quarter based on the number friends on your contact list as well as how often you use Yahoo! Messenger. To find out more information about the Power User program, check out: http://messenger.yahoo.com/powerusers

dexterous: How do I chat with msn messenger users?
YMessengerMelissa: Great question, dexterous. Yahoo! Messenger allows you to chat with users that use Windows Live Messenger. To add them to your Yahoo! Messenger list and start chatting, click the “Add a Contact” button in the main Messenger window (or go to the Contacts menu and choose “Add a Contact”).
YMessengerMelissa: Enter your friend’s email address and then select “Windows Live (MSN)” from the Network dropdown menu. Click “Next” and we’ll take care of the rest! If your friend is online at the time you invite them they’ll get their invite right in Windows Live Messenger. If they’re offline, they’ll receive your invite the next time they sign on.

G-233943749: Do I need to select the Vista Yahoo IM for my new Dell laptop that came equipped with Vista? I see it is a Beta version, should I download the XP or try the Beta?
YMessengerMelissa: Great question! As a Vista user, you can use either Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 or the new Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta. The 9.0 version contains all the features available including webcam, chat rooms etc.
YMessengerMelissa: While the Vista version is still in Beta so some features have not yet been added (like webcam). Be sure to check out http://messenger.yahoo.com/features to compare available features between 9.0 and Vista. Then download the one that’s right for you. Both will work on your Vista PC.

Ricendithas: What about the final version Yahoo! Messenger 9.0? Will it be released this year? Thanks.
MessengerBlogSarah: Yes, soon! Be sure to check the Messenger blog at: http://ymessengerblog.com for upcoming details!

edrewrwc: Resubmission—Submitting Question: When an e-mail arrives in my inbox, a note appears on the screen unsolicited. How do I turn off the function:?
YMessengerMelissa: Hi, edrewrwc. In the Preferences dialog, under Alerts & Sounds, under “Alert me when”, select “I receive a message in Yahoo! Mail”. Then uncheck the box next to “Showing a message at the bottom right corner of my screen”. That should prevent the mail “toasts” from appearing.

Babydoll: I don’t have a question as I’m very savvy with this kind of stuff…I do want to say I’m so loving this 9.0 it’s truly beautiful and fixed other problems I was having.
MessengerBlogSarah: Thanks! Love to hear the good news.

guerly11: how do you get a signature for you’re messenger just like you’re e-mail
YMessengerMelissa: Hi guerly11, great suggestion! Currently you can’t create a signature for your IM’s, but you can change your font to create a more personalized IM experience.
YMessengerMelissa: To do this within 8.1 or 9.0, simply click on the “T” symbol in your IM window to select a different font color or size. To make these changes “stick” and appear each time you use Messenger, in 9.0 go to Messenger>Preferences>Appearance and change your default font and size.
YMessengerMelissa: You can also customize your status message to reflect your personality or to let your friends know what you’re up to.

Sicilianbabe8: when you sign off of messenger and sign onto your messages to go to your cell phone… how do you respond to those txts you get and is your cell number shown to the others you are answering?
MessengerBlogSarah: Sicilianbabe8 – When you sign out of Yahoo! Messenger to your mobile phone, you will still appear online to your Messenger friends with a status of ‘I’m Mobile’ next to your name. When they IM you from Messenger, their IMs will come to your phone as text/SMS messages. To reply to them from your phone, just reply to the text message. Your friend will receive your reply in Yahoo! Messenger. Your mobile phone number does not show up, but rather because you’re replying to their IM, you appear to them as their IM friend in their contact list. You can read more about this feature on our blog: http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2008/06/20/sionara-to-signing-off/

teady_bear_4011: I also have a mobile question– I activated my cell phone number 4 moble im and then my phone got shut off but it still says i am mobile on my friends accounts but i never get the messages they send me
JoeSmiley: Thanks for your question, teady_bear_4011. If you’re using the new 9.0, go to Messenger>Preferences>General. At the bottom of the page you’ll see the option of “Edit Mobile Device.” From here, you can click “Delete” to remove your phone.
JoeSmiley: Also, be sure the option of “Always sign me out to my mobile device” is not checked. If you’re using a Mac, these preferences can be found under File and then you’ll see a menu for your Mobile Device.

YMessengerMelissa: Hey guys, don’t forget to actually ask your question a lot of you are saying “I have a question”– don’t be shy to ask! Just type it in the submission box below to send it straight to us!

G-238449211: A brand new laptop pc will not support all the features of Yahoo IM, like the webcam and pic sharing, I have tried to download it again but it comes up with a BETA version, what do I do next,, it is a Vista OS???
MessengerBlogSarah: Hi, the current version of Messenger for Vista is still in Beta– you can download this version by going here: http://messenger.yahoo.com/download/vista/, or try the new 9.0, designed for XP and higher systems, though it too is in beta.
MessengerBlogSarah: Be sure to check out http://messenger.yahoo.com/features to compare versions and features to find out which version of Messenger is best for you.

dexterous: How do I play games and chat?
YMessengerMelissa: You can now play and chat with friends right from your Yahoo! Messenger window. To do this within 9.0, start an IM conversation with a friend and then click on the “Activities” icon near the top of the window. From here, select one of the Game options to start playing!

JoeSmiley: By the way, if you’re joining us late, be sure to check out the transcript of the conversation so far by clicking on the “Transcript” button above this window!

G-235319422: I just signed on im today, will i need to upgrade when new programs are available
MessengerBlogSarah: We will alert you when you sign into Yahoo! Messenger if there is a newer version available.
MessengerBlogSarah: Or if you’re using Yahoo! Messenger 8.1 or 9.0, you can always go to the Help menu and choose “Check for Updates” to see if you have the latest version.

mikeanthony69: can i use yahoo messenger to date someone?
YMessengerMelissa: Hey mikeanthony69– sure thing! Check out some of the love stories from other Messenger users here: http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2007/02/12/thats-amore/ Be sure to let us know how it goes!

bradhhardt: how do I change my user name? I dont want to use my name when I messege.
JoeSmiley: When a user that’s not on your Messenger List tries to IM you, you see an “add request.” If you agree to add that person to your Messenger List, the name you’ve specified in your Contact Details is sent back to that user (but you have the opportunity to edit that name when responding to the add request). However, if the user has entered their own name for you in the “contact card” for you, that’s the name they’ll see.

newbjoe: Hello, I downloaded Yahoo messenger first B4 downloading the yahoo website. Now when I start up the website they both conflict with each other when at start up. Is there a fix for that..?
MessengerBlogSarah: Are you referring to Web Messenger? If so, you can only be logged in to one version of Messenger at a time.

adjain123: Is your team flooded with questions as my question submitted before start of the chat has not been taken up as yet.
MessengerBlogSarah: We received over 2,000 questions in advance and have received quite a few live questions as well! We will be answering as many as we can!

kathrinamars3: what do you mean by beta?
MessengerBlogSarah: Great question. The term “Beta” comes from the second letter of the Greek alphabet (alpha, beta, chi…). When we develop software, there is typically a first version that we test internally called Alpha. The second version, called Beta, is the one we deem ready for public use. However it’s not completely finished and Betas sometimes have some missing features or bugs (things that don’t quite work right).
MessengerBlogSarah: We like to offer Betas so that we can get feedback from our users about these early versions of our products. Once we finish the Beta phase, we release a final version that no longer uses the term Beta.

binoj_d2002: Can Y! messenger be used to call local phones?
YMessengerMelissa: Yes, you can use Yahoo! Messenger to call other Messenger users for free (PC to PC calls). Or you can sign up for a Phone Out account and use Messenger to call regular or mobile phones.
YMessengerMelissa: Just visit http://voice.yahoo.com to find out more, to sign up and to see the available rates. You can use Yahoo! Messenger to call phones around the world for as low as 1 cent a minute.

Incredible: yahoo voice on conference is not working with my vista home premium OS, what could be the reason?
YMessengerMelissa: Hi Incredible, make sure you’re using the latest version of 9.0 (you can download it here: http://messenger.yahoo.com/download/win) to use this feature!

G-244937909: While chatting I like to use the different little faces (like smiles, etc) and I can see them on my message, but my sister, who is the one I chat more often with, does not see the faces on her screen but the key characters like this one. Any advise?
JoeSmiley: If your sister is using Yahoo! Messenger, she should see the same smileys that you see. If she’s using a messenger client from another company, she may not see exactly the same smileys.

Tami: In an office environment, we need to make sure that everyone’s IM shows up as their first/last name in our list; however, some people have other sign in names. How can we make sure that they are showing up as their first/last name?
MessengerBlogSarah: Hi Tami – To see friends on your list with their real names, you’ll need to provide a first and last name yourself. To do that, right click on a contact in your list and select ‘Edit Contact Details’. Enter a first and last name (or a nickname) and then click ‘Save & Close’.

eyezmezmorize: Could you please explain about the voice feature being non-functional with Vista.
MessengerBlogSarah: eyezmezmorize – It should work as the latest version includes PC to PC and PC to Phone. Are you sure you are running the latest version? (1.2.1.1046 released 7/02/08) http://messenger.yahoo.com/download/vista

adjain123: I want to know more about the Power User program. What are the advantages of being a power user?
YMessengerMelissa: This is available on the /powerusers/about page, but since these aren’t hyperlinking we can also share some of them here.
YMessengerMelissa: 1. Exclusive online indicators
YMessengerMelissa: 2. Custom Avatar Accessories
YMessengerMelissa: 3. Enhanced Customer Care
YMessengerMelissa: 4. Special contests & giveaways
YMessengerMelissa: 5. Invitation to try new products first

G-245023111: When I get an IM, a new icon shows up but how do you get it to make a sound?
MessengerBlogSarah: To get an audible alert when a new instant message comes in, you just need to change your preferences. Go to the main Messenger window and click on the Messenger menu at the top. Then select ‘Preferences’, and click on ‘Alerts & Sounds’ on the left hand side.
MessengerBlogSarah: Be sure that the “Enable Alert Sounds” at the top is checked. Then click on “I receive an Instant Message or SMS Message” and below, make sure the “Playing a sound” box is checked. When finished making your changes, click ‘Apply’ and then click “OK”.

YMessengerMelissa: Hey guys, we have about 15 minutes left, so be sure to submit your last, burning questions now!

dJcooLX: why isn’t there webcam on the beta version of the vista msgr?
MessengerBlogSarah: Yahoo! Messenger for Vista is still in Beta mode and does not yet have all the features we’re planning for it. So stay tuned – webcam video support is coming soon.
MessengerBlogSarah: You can always check the blog to find out the latest updates on our products. http://www.ymessengerblog.com

Y_liquer: How do I delete the status messages that I’ve created been all over site and still can’t find out how
JoeSmiley: In the new 9.0 you can essentially just type over your old Status Message. 9.0 will store your last 5 used messages automatically, but you can also go to Messenger>My Status>Clear my Status Message to update or clear your current message.

Dermot: i thought this chat was live, looks like all your answers are preset, are you only taking questions from Americans?
JoeSmiley: It is live, and we waited to have this until after the Olympics so we would be sufficiently out of our U.S. only mind state

G-238689670: how does yahoo messenger report spammrs on im and chat channels? We need more security from im’s contactin us when i didnt ask them to respond to me or not in chat channel
YMessengerMelissa: If you’re experiencing spam or are being harassed by other users, please report it to Customer Care. If you’re chatting within Yahoo! Messenger, you can click on Help>Report Abuse within your IM window to notify Yahoo! of an offensive message.

G-245099419: how can I invite a friend to be on my messenger?
MessengerBlogSarah: It’s easy to add your friends to your Messenger list by either inviting them to join you. To do this from 9.0, go up to the Contacts menu, and then click “Import Contacts”– from here, you can find out which of your friends already have a Messenger account (this feature is also available on our website at http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite.
MessengerBlogSarah: You can also invite your friends to join Yahoo! Messenger by going to Contacts>Invite People to Join, to ask your friends to meet you on Yahoo! Messenger.

G-238841513: If u have a home video and u want to give it to ur friend how do u dwnload it and the samething with music videos on the internet?
YMessengerMelissa: To send one of your friends a video, try using the file-transfer feature. This is great for sending photos, videos, or files from your computer. In 9.0, click on the Actions tab, and then “Send a File”– select the file you want to send and ta-da! Instant sharing.

Sicilianbabe8: upon talking to friends and they use there PC to PC ..I can hear them but they can’t hear my voice…why?? Am I not doing something right?
MessengerBlogSarah: Sorry you’re having trouble. Try going through the Call Setup Assistant again to check your microphone. (Actions menu > Call Setup…). It could also be that your friend’s computer isn’t set up correctly. Try having them go through the same assistant.

binoj_d2002: Is there any secret, easter-egg, hiden feature in Y! Messenger?
JoeSmiley: Of course! There are hidden emoticons that you can send to surprise your friends.
JoeSmiley: You can see them on the page below:
JoeSmiley: http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/hiddenemoticons
JoeSmiley: You can also hold down the windows key and press Y to bring up Messenger no matter what window you’re in.

shadetee85: Can you create better layouts and stationary FOR EMAIL
JoeSmiley: That’s not really our area. Fortunately my colleague Ryan from the Mail blog (http://www.ymailblog.com) loves that kind of stuff.
JoeSmiley: Also, there will be another Mail Workshop coming in late September.

lenibear: Does Yahoo work along with windows live?
JoeSmiley: Do you mean can both Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger be running at the same time? Yes, they should not interfere with one another.
JoeSmiley: Lenibear – Yahoo! Messenger allows you to chat with users that use Windows Live Messenger. To add them to your Yahoo! Messenger list and start chatting, click the “Add a Contact” button in the main Messenger window (or go to the Contacts menu and choose “Add a Contact”). Enter your friend’s email address and then select “Windows Live (MSN)” from the Network dropdown menu. Click “Next” and we’ll take care of the rest! If your friend is online at the time you invite them they’ll get their invite right in Windows Live Messenger. If they’re offline, they’ll receive your invite the next time they sign on.

YMessengerMelissa: Ok guys, thanks so much for participating in today’s Workshop! You all had GREAT questions and we’re sorry we couldn’t get to everyone’s today! Be sure to check the Messenger blog for the complete transcript, up sometime this week (www.ymessengerblog.com)
YMessengerMelissa: We will also be holding another Workshop on more advanced features and topics sometime next month, so stay tuned!
YMessengerMelissa: Thanks again, and we’ll see you on the blog!