Sends your message to your buddy. You can also hit your ENTER or RETURN key to send your message


Retrieves your buddy's user information. If it appears blank, this simply means the user has not entered any public information. Also includes the users "away" message.


Click to add the buddy you're talking with to your buddy list. It will prompt you to choose which "group" in your buddy list this person should be added to.


Click to establish a voice conversation with your buddy



Use this to warn an offensive user. You will be prompted to warn the person anonymously or with your screen name included. Warning the person anonymously lessens the "value" of the warn against the user, meaning their warning percentage will be lower than if you do it with your screen name.

Click to block an offensive buddy. This buddy will be unable to see when you are online, and they will appear offline on your buddy list as well. You can remove this buddy from your block list in the future by looking under the "Privacy" tab in your preferences.

Allows you to select your font color. This font color will only apply to this particular Instant Message session. To permanently change your font color, you will need to do so in your AIM preferences.

Allows you to select the background color for your messages. This background will only apply to this particular Instant Message session. To permanently change your background color, you will need to do so in your AIM preferences.

Makes your text BOLD, ITALIC, or UNDERLINED. Again, this is just for this particular session. Permanent text style changes must be made in your preferences.

The first, small "A" reduces your font size, the third and larger "A" increases font size, and the center "A" returns your font to its original size setting.

Pops up a list of available smileys. Selecting a smiley inserts it into your message. Just a faster way to get a smiley into your text

Click to send your buddy an AIM Greeting. Allows you to select a greeting for your buddy on the Internet, and your buddy is notified of your greeting via Instant Message.

Click to establish a Direct Connect instant message with your buddy. Allows you to share photos and sounds right in your Instant Message. Also lets you see when your buddy is typing a message. Once the direct connection is established, this is the button you use to browse your hard drive for the photos or sounds you wish to share.


Allows to you create a link from the text in your message


Indicates a buddy who has just logged off

Indicates a buddy who has just logged on

Indicates a buddy for whom you have set an alert to tell you when the user has come online, become available, etc

Indicates a buddy you have blocked

(AIM Express) Use this to warn an offensive user. You will be prompted to warn the person anonymously or with your screen name included. Warning the person anonymously lessens the "value" of the warn against the user, meaning their warning percentage will be lower than if you do it with your screen name.

(AIM Express) Retrieves your buddy's user information. If it appears blank, this simply means the user has not entered any public information. Also includes the users "away" message

(AIM Express) Launches AIM's help feature.