View source for Instant Message

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On the Internet, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging Instant Messaging] refers to a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. Instant Messaging is one form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_chat online chat], another being Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

In [[Second Life]], "Instant Messaging" (IM for short) is a form of '''private''' online chat with individuals or groups. IM thus differs from Local [[Chat]], which is a "public" online chat open to all [[Avatar]]s within hearing range of one another.

==Sending an IM to one Resident==
You can send an IM to any [[Resident]] anywhere in Second Life, no matter where they are, and regardless of whether they are [[Inworld]] or offline. An IM sent to someone who is offline will be stored in the system and delivered when they come [[Inworld]].

There are two main ways to send an IM to another Resident:
*If the Resident is near you, right-click on their [[Avatar]] to open the [[Specific Pie Menu|Avatar Pie Menu]], and select "Send IM"
*If the Resident is far away or offline, you must first open their [[Profile]] Window, and then select "Send IM" in the [[Profile]] Window.

See [[Profile]] for a list of different ways to open the [[Profile]] Window.

==Sending an IM to several residents==
To put more than one person in the same IM conversation, see "How do I IM a group of people at once?" on the SL Knowledge Base.

==Sending an IM to a Group==
Click on the [[Communicate Button]] to open the [[Contacts]] Window, select the Groups Tab, select the name of the Group, and press the "IM/Call" button.

==Sending an IM to email==
To forward an IM to an email, select that option from Preferences.

==See Also==
*[[Chat]]

[[Category:Communicating]]