Yahoo Web Messenger is an instant messaging service, provided by Yahoo, which is integrated into Yahoo Mail and does not require users to download any software. Yahoo Web Messenger is the same software as the popular Yahoo Messenger, but is provided via the user’s browser instead of his/her desktop. Yahoo Web Messenger allows users to communicate with Yahoo, Facebook, and Windows Live contacts and requires users to run Internet Explorer 8 or later, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari.

 

How Yahoo Web Messenger Works

Yahoo Web Messenger is available to users from the Internet because Yahoo hosts the Yahoo Messenger software on a publically-accessible database. Although many users are connecting to this database at the same time, each user opens a unique session with the database from the computer he/she is accessing. From here, the user can log into his/her unique account and communicate with other users who are currently logged in.

 Although Yahoo Web Messenger does not provide users with many features that are available in Yahoo Messenger, it does provide users with instant messaging, SMS, a contact search bar, a Yahoo Search bar, privacy settings, archive options, tabbed instant messaging windows, emoticons, avatars, display images, custom status messages, and customizable fonts and colors.

 

Applications

Yahoo Web Messenger can be used to communicate with Yahoo contacts via instant messaging when accessing the Internet from a public computer. Because many public computers block users from download and/or installing software, Yahoo Web Messenger allows users to access Yahoo Messenger when they would otherwise be unable to do so.

 

Advantages

Yahoo Web Messenger is advantageous because it allows users to access all of the same features that are provided by Yahoo Messenger from a web browser without having to download any software. This is advantageous for users who wish to use Yahoo Messenger when away from their home computer, such as when they are visiting a library, school, or friend’s house.