If you're new to Messenger, it may seem a bit confusing. But don't worry — once you get started, you'll see that Messenger is easy to use and lots of fun. For an introduction to Messenger's features, choose this link: Introduction to Messenger

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Sending messages
To send a message to someone, you must know that person's e-mail address. In addition, that person must use MSN Messenger.

If you want to see when your friends are available to receive messages, you can add them to your buddy list. To learn more about the buddy list, choose this link: Buddy list

When you add a buddy, that person is sent a buddy request, which asks if he or she wants to exchange messages with you. You may still be able to contact this person before the buddy request is accepted, but Messenger won't show their status until they have accepted your buddy request. Once they have accepted the request, when they are online, the little gumdrop person icon next to their name will be green.

Your buddy contact information is stored in the same Address Book you use to store e-mail names and addresses. If a buddy's information changes, you can choose Edit Addresses at any time to update it.

To send a message, just choose Messenger from the home page, and check to see whether any of your buddies are online. To learn more about sending messages, choose this link: Sending messages

Tip: You can also open Messenger from anywhere in the MSN TV service by pressing the Option key on your keyboard, and then choosing Messenger.

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Receiving messages
You don't have to be signed in to Messenger to receive a message. If someone sends you a message while you're browsing the Web or reading e-mail, a message scrolls across the bottom of the screen, telling you someone has sent you a message request. Press the Option key and choose Messenger to respond.

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Having a conversation
Having a conversation in Messenger is easy. Just type a sentence and choose the Send button or press Return on your keyboard. To learn more about having a conversation, choose this link: Having a conversation

As you converse, the message window scrolls and text disappears off the top. If you need to refer to something that was said earlier in the conversation, use the up arrow key to scroll upward in the message window.

You can use Messenger's Invite and Contact buttons to talk to several people at once in the same conversation. To learn more, choose this link: Get a group conversation going

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Blocking & allowing senders
If you like, anyone who uses MSN Messenger and knows your e-mail address can send you an instant message: Allowing anyone to contact you

If you decide later that you don't want to talk to absolutely everyone, you can block messages from people you don't want to talk to: Blocking people from contacting you

If you don't want to talk to strangers at all, you can allow only people you know to contact you: Allowing just your buddies to contact you

Tip: If you need to take a break from Messenger, just choose Settings and turn off Messenger. When Messenger is off, you won't be notified when your buddies are connected, and you won't be able to send or receive messages. Go back to Settings when you want to turn Messenger back on.

Now that you know the basics, it's time to limber up your typing fingers and have some fun with Messenger!

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