Yahoo Messenger is a free utility that allows Internet users to type messages to each other. The Messenger window shows you a list of people that you've added to your 'contact' list, and let's you know which are currently online. To send an instant message, you just double click on the contact name and an 'Instant Message' window will open where you can type your message. Replies from that contact will appear in that window as soon as the sender presses 'enter'. You may send an Instant Message to a contact that is not currently online and that message will be delivered as soon as the user goes online. You may also start a 'conference' where you can invite any number of people to join the chat.
There are also voice and video features that are sometimes a bit difficult to setup, but with enough determination, we could make that work.

To get and use Yahoo Messenger, you will need a Yahoo! ID. There is no charge for this and anybody that uses MyYahoo already has one. Once you have downloaded and installed the messenger, you can start adding contacts to your list.

Here is a brief list of current users:

• jim_maddox_mi
• jeff_dalton67
• rhunsche

Each contact will get a confirmation message when being added to someones contact list.

You can find more information including download and installation instruction at the Yahoo! Messenger site.