How To Use Instant Messaging On Skype

Step 1: Choose an instant messaging program

There are a lot of different instant messaging programs on the web, in this film we will show you how to set up and use an Skype instant messenger account on your Mac

Step 2: Download

To setup a Skype instant messaging on your computer, you just have to go to www.skype.com. You then hit the download skype for Mac link.

Step 3: Install

When you click on the link, a security box will open. Select run, and the program will begin downloading. Follow the on screen instructions to save the program onto your computer.

Step 4: Sign On

If you are signing on for the first time and don't have a screen name click onto new name and hit the sign on button

Step 5: Adding you details

Follow the directions by putting your details into the required fields and then hit the submit button at the bottom of the page.

Top tip - you may not be able to use your actual name as your screen name as your real name may have been taken already, try a nick name

Step 6: Editing your details

To edit your details, go to Account on the toolbar and drag down to My Profile, here you can choose a fun icon or photo to represent you when you're chatting. You can also add other details for your Skype friends to see.

Step 7: Adding Skype contacts

You may have friends who also have account whom you may want to contact. Adding them to your address book is easy. Go to Contacts on the toolbar and go to Add contact then type the Skype user name of your friend and hit search.

Step 8: Check who is online

Skype will automatically search for any of your contacts who are currently online. Your main pop up window show all your contacts, their on-line status, various icons denote whether people are Online or not.

Step 9: Sending an instant message

Click on the contact you wish to talk to. Click on the send instant message option at the bottom on the right. A new window will open, type in your message and add an emoticon if you wish and click send. Your message will instantly appear in the large text box above, and be sent to your Skype contact. Once they have relied you will be able to chat freely.

Step 10: Having a conversation

The person at the other end of the conversation will be prompted by his Skype program to open your message and reply. You will now both have the same messenger window open, and any messages you write to each other will appear instantly on both computers. Your Skype program will mark who sent each message using your name, and display the messages in the exact order they were sent.

Step 11: Sending files

To send a file to another Skype user, open up a conversation with them, go to contacts and go down to send file and then choose the file you wish to send

Step 12: Security

Instant messaging programs, like most things on the net, are not completely secure. If you get a message from someone you do not know, especially if it is of an inappropriate nature, you can block that person from sending you anything else, using the block contact button at the bottom left of the message window. Never give credit card or bank details over an IM connection.