Online Chat / Instant Messenger For direct "online chat" with a friend or family member, it is recommended to use America Online Instant Messenger (available also for non-America Online users in a version created for Netscape users). One does not have to be an America Online user to use this wonderful communication tool. It really works but requires that both parties desiring to communicate are "online" at the same time. Installation is easy and use is intuitive. (Download it, Install it, Choose your User Name, Add friends to your "Buddy List", Contact others on your "Buddy List"!). Kyle and his friends use a different "Online Chat" Application called ICQ which is also free and used by a lot of people!! Yahoo! has it's own version of this as does Microsoft but I recommend the AOL Instant Messenger! You may wish to arrange a predictible time with a "buddy" (via email, telephone, or regular mail) so they know when you may be "online". I open my AOL Instant Messenger as soon as I go online so my "Buddy List" is always available. When a "Buddy" comes "online", I see them on the list and have the possibility of sending them a message and continuing with a chat.

David Thomas - davidt1935@aol.com