Gmail chat lets you send and receive instant messages with friends, family, and colleagues using Google's chat network. Exchange quick notes and emoticons with anyone on the network using Gmail, iGoogle, orkut, or Google Talk.
To get started, follow these steps:
- Add friends to your contact list.
- Check to see who is online.
- Send messages to a friend.
Communicate face to face with your Gmail contacts using the voice and video chat feature. To use the feature, download the plug-in and start voice and video chatting with a friend.
You can also chat with people on other networks that support open server-to-server federation or with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) buddies. To get started with AIM, sign in to your AIM account in Gmail chat.
By default all chats are saved and searchable in your Gmail account. Learn more about chat history.
If you like chat in Gmail you can also add it to your iGoogle. Learn more here.