icq.com

www.icq.com

ICQ ("I seek you") is an internet chat facility that allows you to chat with family, friends, acquaintances all over the world while surfing the net.

First You download the software and install it, then you choose an identity, and then set your preferences - more on that later.

This piece of software is very usefull indeed, it allows you to keep in touch with people in real time, it can monitor your email and alert you to new messages, you can send files to people, get reminders e.g when it's someone's birthday (no excuses now!) and a whole load more.

What I really like about it is that you can place an indicator on your website which tells your visitors whether or not you've logged in to icq, so they won't waste time looking you up if you're unavailable, this is also useful from a career standpoint - since I'm about to embark on a career in web technology, potential employers will have no trouble contacting me.

The interface is customizable, so you can change the colours if you like (and I often do), which adds that personal touch.

The program is non-intrusive - it's a tiny bar that waits on the side of your screen, or you can minimize it to the system tray (in the right hand corner of your taskbar).

-----------------
-----------------

CONTACT LIST
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
If you know the number/nickname of the person you wish to contact, you can add them directly to your contact list, if not you can do a search and add them once you've found them.

Once you've added them, they will remain there until you delete them, although if you use a different pc you will have to re-add them as the contact list is saved on the computer, not by icq.

When you log in, you will be alerted as to their online status by the colours changing, and/or an audible sound effect.

You can choose to receive messages from users ONLY on your contact list - all other messages will be blocked, or you can receive messages from anyone - the choice is yours, but I prefer to restrict the service to my friends and family only. You also have the option of requiring authorisation when a user adds you to their contact list - you can then prevent your number from being added to their list if you wish.

PREFERENCES
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
This where you can set some of the options above (e.g receive messages only from your contacts), as well as many more including multi-language support, email preferences, audio alerts etc etc - there's a huge list well worth browsing.

VIEW/CHANGE MY DETAILS
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
When you click on this tab, you will see what others can see - It is very important that if you wish to remain anonymous, you should delete any references to your name/email etc, then hit save. Of course you may wish people to know all about you, in which case fill in as many blanks as you like.

STATUS INDICATOR
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
There are a few indicators to choose from to suit your needs. When you log in to icq, the little red flower will turn green - both in the system tray, and on the icq program bar - this indicates to others that you are online, and available.

Other status indicators you can switch to are:

• Free for chat: A little yellow face will appear over the flower

• Away: This tells others that you have left your computer seat for a while, and is indicated by a white block over the flower.

• N/A Extended away: This tells others that you will be away for a while.

(In both away and Ext away, users can send messages to you, but they will be alerted that you are away, and that the message will be delivered when you return to online mode)

• Occupied (urgt msgs): Indicates that you can't chat now because you're busy doing something more important - urgent messages only are welcome.

• DND (do not disturb): self explanatory - users shouldn't disturb you at the moment.

• Privacy (invisible): An eye appears over the green flower, and to all your contacts, and in all searches, you will appear as offline.

To change your online status, click on the flower, and select, or if minimized, double click the icq icon then click the flower.

---------------------
---------------------

There are two modes to choose from - simple mode for beginners, and advanced mode. In truth there is little difference between them, I prefer advanced mode, but it is easily switchable.

---------------------
---------------------

ICQ offers an sms service (for sending messages to mobile phones), but I haven't used this personally, so I'm not sure of it's effectiveness, however it is a free service. You can send messages from your mobile phone directly to your friend's ICQ by putting your friend's ICQ number in the phone's phone book with the prefix "+2783142" - for example if your friend's ICQ number is 0000000000, put this in your phone book: +27831420000000000 - you can then text them at ICQ. There are a couple of options availabe when texting from ICQ to a phone, including simultaneously sending an email to them as well - check ICQ help files for details, help can also be found on their website.

There is also an internet phone option - I'm not entirely sure how this works either as I prefer the text chat, but I do know that you have to pay for call time to be credited to your account if you wish to use this service. To be honest, I don't know anyone who uses this feature, but if you're interested details can be found in the icq help file.

---------------------
---------------------

When you chat to anyone, the conversation is stored in the history, which you can clear at any time, or call up for reference. When a user sends you a message a window pops up and a sound effect is played, so you'll never miss out on their information.

If you click on user details, a window will open containing any details they've submited such as name etc, or they may have chosen not to enter information.

--------------------
--------------------

These are just a few of things you can do with icq - you can also join communities and interact with like minded people, make an icq webpage, publish your details to the white pages, view horoscopes, get advice and loads loads more.

I recommend you visit their website as it gives up to date information, tutorials, and all kinds of features.

If you sign up to icq you will automatically get a "communication centre" web address, which will be www.icq.com/YOURicq# - you also set up a web front page, that will be stored on your own hard drive and only made available when you're connected to the internet.

This is a great piece of software that most people will find useful. Users of MSN messenger will be familiar with the concept, others would benefit from downloading icq and giving it a try.

--

For some reason, it doesn't like to run with Morpheus - running these programs together causes my pc to crash, but I don't know if this is true of other users, it might just be my pc.

***** OTHER ISSUES *****
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Be warned, although the majority of people I've met through ICQ have been really nice, there are no guarantees that everyone you talk to will be!

Do not let children use icq without your supervision, that's just asking for trouble - they could come into contact with allsorts including perverts - a very real danger in cyberspace.

It is advised that you don't give strangers personal details such as phone numbers/email addresses for obvious reasons.

No matter how charming people appear to be, don't let down your guard - It is possible to have a good discussion/chat with people without them getting to know too much about you...

Always use responsibly.