What does Online,away,appear offline and invisible-all of that mean-in Instant Messaging?

My online access to the Internet is mobile and at the library-which doesn't allow Instant Messaging,presumably because of the kids.I contend Instant Messaging has a valid use in professional and business worlds.

What does Online,away,appear offline and invisible-all of that mean-in Instant Messaging?
This is a feature of Yahoo! called the User Status. A User can choose one of several Statuses to show others. When you are On-line or Available, you are saying you are On-line, which does not automatically mean you are execpting messages, but you may be. Open Talk, means you are eccepting both instant messages and computer to computer calls. Away means just that, they are away from the computer. Busy, means they may be on the computer but are busy doing something else and do not wish to be disturbed so don't message them. On a call, means they are either on their home phone, cell phone, computer to computer call or a computer to a cell, landline phone. Most are self explanitory. Be right back, means they have stepped away from the computer but will be back soon. I think you get the idea! LOl Yahoo! messenger also has a privacy feature called "Invisable to everybody" and also can be configured to show invisable to individual ID's of those on your contact list. Just click the contact and select invisible. It is currently in BETA though so some are experiancing still showing as On-line when using the privacy feature.





However, everybody else knows about the "Invisible" feature, and if they have a good idea when you may be on-line they will attempt to instant messege you anyway. If you respond to the window which pops up, then you are allowing them to know they were right. Some who are doing this may just be telling others they appear on-line when they don't, as this is considered rude behavior. Ignoring somebodies Status Message, is rude in the instant messeging world. So, they try to convince the person they popped in on that they showed up as on-line.





Well, hope this explains things enough! :-)
Reply:Online means you're online.





Away means that while your IM is open, you're not paying attention to it.





Appear Offline means you're online but don't want people to know it.





Invisible is the same thing as Appear Offline.





Some companies use IM quite a bit; others don't.