When you're ready to begin chatting with other people, the first thing you need to do is set up a contact list. If you're using Gmail, your contact list should set up automatically, and you can add new contacts easily. Even if you're not a Gmail user, setting up a list isn't difficult.
Begin by opening the Google Talk window, and then click the +Add button in the bottome-left corner of the window. As the figure below shows, an invitation window opens. Enter the email address of the person you would like to chat with into the text box provided, then click Next. Alternaticely, Gmail users can choose contacts from their contact list.
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The next screen that appears will contain a prewritten invitation to the person you're inviting. You can leave this invitation as it is or you can change it by typing your own words into the sace provided. When you've finished with your message, click Next.
The final screen is a confirmation that you've completed the invitation. The invitation has not yet been sent, however, so you have to click the Finished button to send it. After you do, the window closes and you're returned to your Google Talk window.
Your friend's address now appears in your Google Talk window with an invited notation next to the person's name. If your friend accepts your invitation, the invite notation disappears. If the person rejects the invitation, he or she will be removed from your contact list.
Once you've populated your contact list then you can start chatting. The next article in this series shows you how.
