Sun Java System Instant Messaging 6 2004Q2 Online Help |

Contents Index

> # Getting Started

> This section contains the following information:

> - Sun Java System Instant Messenger User Interface Overview
> - Sun Java System Instant Messenger Service User IDs and Screen Names
> - Steps to Get Started

> ## Sun Java System Instant Messenger User Interface Overview

> The Sun™ ONE Instant Messenger user interface enables you to participate in real-time messaging and automatically distribute information over the Web. It enables you to add contacts—users and LDAP groups—to contact groups and communicate with them. When users sign on to the Instant Messenger service, their status changes to online, and you can start chatting with them, send alerts, send polls or send files to them.

> Using Sun ONE Instant Messenger, you can:

> - Send instant messages (chat) and files -The Instant Messenger product’s version of instant messaging is called chat. Chat is a real-time conversation capability that enables you to complete projects, answer customer questions, and complete other time-critical work assignments. Chat sessions are held either in chat rooms created on an as-needed basis, or in pre-established conference rooms.

> See To Send an Instant Message (To Invite Someone to Chat) and To Enter a Conference Room for more information.

> - Send alerts - Alerts are time-critical messages that instantly “pop-up” on users’ desktops. If you send an alert with the “Show message status” option selected, you know who has received the message, and you are notified that the message has been read when the alert is either closed or clicked. If the alert message requires a response, the user can start a chat with the alert’s sender.

> See To Send an Alert for more information.

> - Create polls - The polling function enables you to poll users for their response to a question. You send a question and possible answers to poll recipients and they respond with their selected answer. When recipients respond to your poll, you view their answers in a Status window. The summary of results can also be viewed in the Status window.

> See To Conduct a Poll for more information.

> - Create and view news channels - News channels are forums for posting and sharing information. Users subscribe to news channels of interest to see updates. The information in a news channel can be published automatically by way of a URL or as a static message. Administrators control news channel access by assigning users to the channels they need, and decide who can see or post information to channels.

> See To Create a News Channel and To View News Channels for more information.

> ## Sun Java System Instant Messenger Service User IDs and Screen Names

> Log in to Sun Java System Instant Messenger service using your LDAP user ID and password. Unlike other instant messaging products, with the Instant Messenger software, you are not allowed to choose a screen name—the displayed name under which you send instant messages. Your screen name is your regular user ID.

> ## Steps to Get Started

> To use the Sun Java System Instant Messenger software, you need to perform the following tasks:

> - Download and install the appropriate Java™ software that enables Sun ONE Instant Messenger software to run on your system. Contact your administrator for more information.
> - Launch Sun ONE Instant Messenger software.
> - Login to Sun ONE Instant Messenger’s user interface.
> - Create contact groups and add contacts to them.

> See the Glossary of Terms to become familiar with the Sun ONE Instant Messenger product’s terminology.

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