Frequently Asked Questions

If you didn't find the answer you were looking for in this FAQ and need more immediate help, please contact Technical Support.

MECA

What is MECA?

• IM all your Buddies on AIM, Yahoo!, MSN and ICQ from just ONE messenger.
• Express your individuality with the best IM graphics around.
• Access exclusive contests and games

Is MECA FREE to use?

YES! MECA is a FREE instant message application. The only cost to you is a few minutes of your time to complete the short registration process.

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Using MECA

How do I use MECA?

• You can use the messenger with any computer that has a connection to the internet.
• The messenger will automatically start each time you log on to your computer.
• Simply type in your screen name and password and you are ready to go!
• See the next categories for specific help. If you need additional help, please visit our extensive Help Page.

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Registration

Do I need to register to get MECA?

• YES! You will need to fill out a short and simple registration form in order to use MECA.
• The registration form is where you will select your screen name and password, so it is essential to your messenger experience.
• To register, click here and fill out the form.

What information is required during registration?

• The following will be asked for at registration: screen name, password, email address, first and last name, and birthday.
• Your birthday is collected for age verification purposes and is not stored in your profile.

Does anyone else see my registration information?

• NO. We will not sell or share any user registration information without consent.
• Your registration information or 'profile' is shared by default with anyone using the messenger, but the profile does not include your email address, date of birth or password.
• You can keep others from seeing your name, location, marital status, interests, etc. by removing the check mark from the box at the end of the registration page.
• You can change this in your profile at a later date.
• To view our privacy policy, click here.

How do I register a new account?

• To create a new account simply click here.
• Fill out all the information requested.
• You now have a new account.

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Download

How do I download MECA?

• First, go to the registration form.
• Then, fill in all the required fields marked with an asterisk. If you don't we will bug you with polite messages until you do.

What are the system requirements?

• MECA runs on your existing internet connection. For optimal performance, we recommend that your computer has: 233 MHZ Intel Pentium II or AMD 8 MB VRAM Video Card 64 MB RAM 15MB of free hard drive space 56K modem or higher 800x600 resolution, 16 million or more colors. We require Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista.
• This product is supported on IE 5.5 or greater and Netscape.
• Check that your system clock and time zone are properly set for the best messenger experience!

If I already have an account, how do I download MECA without creating a new account?

• Go to the Registration Page.
• Click the 'Get Latest Version' link.
• Complete the download process. This will download latest version to your computer.

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Setting Up MECA

How do I setup MECA?

• When the MECA login form comes up, fill in your screen name and your password and click on the "Login" button.
• Everything you ever wanted to know about how to use the messenger is answered either in the Online Tour or the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

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Email Setup

How do I set up email accounts?

• On the Buddie Remote, click on Manage > My Preferences > Email Setup.
• Fill in all the blanks.
• Don't know your server name? Go to your ISP's (Internet Service Provider's) home page.
• If you have a MSN or Yahoo! account you don't need to fill that in.
• If you go to My Preferences > InterOp Setup > MSN or Yahoo, check the box that says "Enable Email Notification."

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InterOp™

I already use another IM application... can I talk to my existing Buddies from MECA?

• During the user registration process you will be prompted to enter your screen name and password for each messenger's Buddy List that you wish MECA to import. You can import Buddie Lists from AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, and ICQ.
• MECA will then automatically upload your Buddy List(s) into your Buddie Remote window!
• This technology is called Interoperability, or InterOp for short.

What is InterOp?

• Currently, most instant message applications only provide the ability for users to instant message with Buddies within the same application.
• MECA has the technology of "Interoperability" which enables our users to instant message Buddies outside of MECA.
• With InterOp, MECA can IM with AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, and ICQ.
• For more information and to learn how to setup your InterOp accounts please visit our InterOp Page.

Why did I receive the same instant message on MECA and AIM at the same time?

• Receiving multiple messages occurs when you are signed into the AOL Instant Messaging Network more than once on the same PC. For example, when you log onto your AIM account through MECA AND onto the AOL Instant Messenger on the same PC, the messages sent to you will be delivered to both messengers. You can prevent the duplicate messages by having only one instance of your AIM account open at a time.

Why did I receive an instant message notification from the screen name "AOL System Msg?"

• The instant message you received was sent from AIM to notify you that your screen name is currently signed into the AOL Instant Messaging Network more than once. For example, you have logged onto your AIM account through MECA AND you logged onto the AOL Instant Messenger on the same PC. The message was sent to help you manage your instant messaging sessions because AIM supports active messaging sessions in multiple locations. For more information please consult the AOL Instant Messenger’s FAQ, Keywords: Instant Message Routing.

My AIM Buddies who connect via the Trillian Messenger can no longer read the messages I send to them. What can I do?

• MECA supports the Unicode character set. This means that in addition to basic English characters, your messenger can now display characters for languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
• The incompatibility you’re experiencing with your AIM Buddies on Trillian is due to Trillian’s lack of Unicode support. Your AIM buddy may have even received the following message from Trillian: "Your friend has just sent you a message using the Unicode character set, and Trillian does not currently support this. Unicode support will be coming soon!." Unfortunately, this problem will persist as long as your friend continues to use Trillian’s basic version 2.0 and below.

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Buddie Remote™

What is the Buddie Remote?

• The Buddie Remote is your messaging command center.
• It is where your "Actions", "Manage", "Preferences", "Buddie List™" and more reside.

My Buddie Remote isn't showing. What should I do?

• Right click on the MECA icon on your task bar (bottom right side of your screen).
• Select "Show My Buddie Remote."

How do I add a screen name to my Buddie List?

• From the Message Window:
1. Choose the "Manage" icon on the toolbar.
2. Select "Add a Buddie."
• From the Buddie Remote:
1. Click on the "Add" button.
2. A form will pop up with a space for you to add your Buddie's screen name.
3. Enter your Buddie's screen name and click "Add" which will insert the name directly into your MECA Buddie List.
4. Click the "search" button to look for screen names and profiles of other MECA Buddies.

How do I block someone from my MECA Buddie List?

You can block users in 3 ways:

1. Right click on the screen name on your Buddie List, select "Block."
• The Block form will come up with an explanation of what blocking means.
• Choose "Block."
• The screen name will now appear with a line through it.
• You can unblock by right clicking on the name and choosing "Unblock."
  
2. Choose block option when you receive the Non-Buddie™ message pop-up form.
   
3. Click the "Manage" button.
• Select My Preferences> Block List.
• The screen name of the person you choose to block will be removed from your MECA Buddie List and be moved to your "Block List."
• The blocked user will be notified of their status the next time they try to message you.

How do I unblock a screen name?

1. Select My Preferences > Block List.
2. Click on MECA name to open the list.
3. Select the name you wish to unblock and click the "Unblock" button.

How do I delete a screen name from my MECA Buddie List?

1. Right click a screen name in the MECA Buddie List and choose "Delete from Buddie List."
2. A confirmation box will pop up.
3. You can turn this confirmation prompt off in Manage > My Preferences.

How many screen names can I store in my MECA Buddie List?

There is no limit to the number of MECA Buddies that you can store in your MECA Buddie List.

What do the buttons on the Buddie Remote do?

On the top:

• The "X" button closes the Buddie Remote (Right click on the MECA icon on the task bar and choose "Show my Buddie Remote" to restore it.)
• The "-" button (the minimize button) temporarily closes the Buddie Remote and sends an icon to the task bar on the bottom of your screen. Click on the icon to restore it.
• The "?" goes to our Help Pages.
• The "Actions" button gives you a list of actions you can take: i.e., Send a Message, Invite a Friend, etc.
• Click the "Manage" button and that will give you ways of personalizing your messaging experience.
• The "Add" and the "Get Skins" buttons (surprise!) add Buddies and get skins!

How do I view my Buddies in the Buddie Remote?

• To view your online Buddies in the Buddie Remote, click the arrow next to the messenger header. This will switch between showing and hiding the Buddies in your list(s). If you do not have anyone in your list(s), this will not work for you.
• To view your Buddies who are not currently connected, click the arrow next to the messenger header under "Offline." This will switch between showing and hiding the Buddies in your list(s). If you do not have anyone in your list(s), this will not work for you.

How do I open the Message Window when a MECA Buddie is selected?

• To open a Message Window so you can chat with a MECA Buddie, simply select their name on the list and double click it.

Can I resize my Buddie Remote?

Yes. To resize your Buddie Remote roll your mouse over the bottom, the bottom right-hand corner or the right edge until a black directional arrow appears.

When the arrow appears, click and drag the Buddie Remote to the desired size.

How do I sign out and exit?

• Right click on the MECA icon on the task bar.
• Select "Sign Out and Exit."

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Message Window

How do I send a message?

• Double click a name on your Buddie Remote or right-click on the screen name and choose "Send a Message."
• A Message Window will open up.
• Start typing in the rectangle below the buttons on your Message Window (that's called the Typing Window).
• Click the "Send" button or press "Enter" on your keyboard. Your message will move into the upper window (the Conversation Window.)

What is the Message Window?

• This is where your selected skin images and active conversations will be displayed. Grab any edge of a message window to change the height and/or width. Please note that resizing a message window will likely distort your skin image a bit.

What is the Conversation Window?

• The Conversation Window is the larger, white area on your Message Window, which displays your conversations with your MECA Buddies.

How does the Conversation Window work?

• Your MECA Buddie's™ screen name will appear on the left side of the Conversation Window followed by their message.
• A scroll bar will appear on the right side of the Conversation Window as the conversation grows.
• Every conversation has a 1000 line limit. If you reach that limit, you will receive a message. You can choose to delete the top portion of the conversation or close and reopen a new conversation with your Buddie™.

What is the status bar?

• The status bar displays the screen name of the MECA Buddie you are currently instant messaging.
• If you have InterOp accounts set-up, the status bar will also display the name of the instant messenger (AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, or ICQ) after your MECA Buddie's screen name.
• The status bar will also display system messages such as when your Buddie is typing, or is in a special status such as Away or Busy.

Can I have more than one conversation going?

• Yes! And you will be talking to each one of them privately because you can have many Conversation Windows open at the same time.

What are emoticons?

• Emoticons are entertaining icons that can be used to describe your emotion or mood for the moment, or just a playful means to deliver your point.
• To add an emoticon to your conversation, just click on the orange "emoticon" button under the Conversation Window and select the one you want.
• Or you can type in the emoticon shortcut. Click on "..." at the bottom right of the emoticon display form to see the emoticon keyboard shortcuts.
• The emoticon will automatically show up in the Typing Window at your cursor and will be sent to your Buddie when you click "send" or hit "enter."

How do I save or print a conversation from my Message Window?

• See "Save a Conversation or Chat"

What happens when I close a Message Window?

• The conversation in that Message Window is completed. However, it will not log you off of MECA.

What is the SkinFader™ and how does it work?

• The SkinFader is on the right-hand side of the active Message Window. You can slide the SkinFader up and down to control how white you want the background of the Conversation and Typing Windows to be.
• When the SkinFader is at the top of the skin you can see the whole skin without the Conversation and Typing Windows or the buttons.
• To send a message, click where the Typing Window was, and the skin will revert back to its previous SkinFader setting. This will also occur if you receive a message.

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What is a Word2U Messenger?

What is a Word2U Messenger?

Word2U Messenger is an instant messenger powered by MECA that can be personalized by you. You can skin your messenger with your photos, blast messages to your friends, and send files and messages to buddies on all the major IM networks. It’s all about you!

Friends can skin their Word2U Messenger with your images and share these skins with other buddies on the MECA network, virally sharing your Word2U Messenger experience as they chat.

Also, people who download your Word2U Messenger are opted-in to receive exclusive IM Broadcast updates from you.

Take the Word2U Messenger Online Tour to learn more!

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Creating a Word2U Messenger

What do I get with my Word2U Messenger?

• Word2U Messenger for you and your friends to use
• Custom Word2U Messenger Registration Page
• Custom Skins Page on the MECA skins network
• Personal Word2U Messenger Home Page on the MECA messengers network
• Messenger Skins
• Custom Buddie Remote
• Free, unlimited Broadcast capabilities
• ‘Spread the Word’ ads for your websites, MySpace, blogs, etc.
• ‘Spread the Word’ ads for your friends to post on their websites, MySpace, blogs, etc.
• Word2U Messenger management tool
• Statistics on registrations, skin downloads and broadcast impressions

How do I create my own Word2U Messenger?

It’s easy! First, you have a MECA screen name. Screen names on any messenger powered by MECA will also work. Then all that is required is entering a name for your Word2U Messenger on the Create Word2U Messenger Home Page and your Word2U Messenger will automatically be created. Once that's done it’s time to add your custom content to personalize your Word2U Messenger experience.

To begin, log in to Manage My Messenger. This will open the Word2U Messenger management tool – the central control for your custom Word2U Messenger – which will allow you to create skins, send Broadcasts and add marketing content to your Word2U Messenger experience.

What will I need to create a Word2U Messenger?

You will only need the following to create a Word2U Messenger:

• Your existing messenger screen name
• Your existing messenger password
• A unique name for your Word2U Messenger

Other information will be requested, but is not required. However, providing the additional information helps you improve the messaging experience for you and your friends.

We will not share your personal information with anyone. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy

When will my Word2U Messenger go live for others to download?

Your Word2U Messenger will be live immediately on the MECA Messenger network, so you’ll want to be sure to create some great skins and add additional content as soon as possible.

Real-Time Reporting

What information will I get regarding the use of my Word2U Messenger?

We will provide you with real-time information about how people are using your Word2U Messenger. This includes:

• The number of people online at any time
• The number of people who have registered for your Word2U Messenger
• The amount of time they spend online using your Word2U Messenger
• How many times your skins have been downloaded, and how much time they’ve been used
• How many times your skins have been shared with other buddies on the MECA IM network, as well as with people on the other major instant messengers
• Details on the Broadcasts you’ve sent, including date/time sent, the message text, how many were sent and how many were seen, and the number of clicks on the links you included in your message

MECA Terms & Conditions prohibits the sharing of personal information so we are unable to provide any personal information about those who use your Word2U Messenger.

Getting your Word2U Messenger

How do I download my personalized Word2U Messenger?

If you already have the messenger installed, there are two ways you can download your own Word2U Messenger. You can go to the personal Word2U Messenger Home Page you made in the MECA messengers network and click “Download this Word2U Messenger” or you can login to the Word2U Messenger management tool and click the “Get Word2U Messenger” button on the home page.

Can I create a Word2U Messenger and download at the same time?

If you don't already have the messenger installed, just click on “Download Messenger and Get Word2U Messenger ” from your home page in the Word2U Messenger management tool.

How do others find and download my Word2U Messenger?

A lot of that is up to you - and the sky’s the limit!  We’ve provided Word2U Messenger Spread the Word ads for you to place on your webpages, blogs, MySpace page and everywhere else on the web that your friends may be. All anyone needs to do is click on the ad and they’ll be immediately directed to your personal Word2U Messenger Home Page.

Also, don’t forget to spread the word via emails, advertising where you play and simply by word-of-mouth.

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Broadcast

What is a Broadcast?

Broadcasts are messages you can send out to all the people who have opted-in to receive your Broadcasts! Broadcasts will look just like a personal IM from you to your friends.

People who are online when you send your Broadcasts will receive these messages instantly. If someone is offline, they will get the message as soon as they login to their Word2U Messenger.

Do the recipients need to be on my Buddies List?

No. Anybody can select to receive your Broadcasts, even if you don't have them on your Buddie List.

How do I send a Broadcast?

Go to the Broadcast page in the Word2U Messenger management tool. Enter the IM text you want to send out to all the people opted-in to receive your Broadcast message and select which of your skins it should be delivered on. Don’t forget to add some links to your message so you can connect your friends directly to your website, blog, schedule, etc.

Can anyone send a Broadcast?

No. Broadcast is a function reserved just for a Word2U Messenger owner and other customers.

Who will get my Broadcast?

Any member on the MECA IM network who has opted-in to receive Broadcasts from your Word2U Messenger will get your Broadcasts. This could be friends who signed up for your Word2U Messenger, or other members of the MECA network who saw your personal Word2U Messenger Home Page and requested to get Broadcasts from you.

How much does a Broadcast cost?

For now, MECA is offering Broadcast capability free of charge to our Word2U Messenger owners as our way of saying thank you for giving us a try. In the future, a minimal charge may be associated with sending a Broadcast.

How often may I send a Broadcast?

You may send as many Broadcasts as you’d like (Warning: Don’t “Cry Wolf!” People are more likely to read these if you don’t send them 50 a day!). In the future, MECA may limit the number of Broadcasts that can be sent.

Can I Broadcast video or audio through the Word2U Messenger?

You can only send rich text via Broadcast at this time. The ability to send video and audio is a product enhance that we’ll be working on shortly. In the meantime, you can include links to your web pages that host your video and audio files.

Can I target my Broadcasts?

Right now your Broadcasts will be delivered to everyone who opts in to get them. Depending on customer demand we may add the ability to target Broadcasts to age/sex/location. If that’s something you’d find useful, please let us know by emailing us at word2ufeedback@meca.com.

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Skins

What is a skin?

A skin is the custom background on the message window and the primary piece of your Word2U Messenger messaging experience. (Hey, a picture is worth a thousand words!)

How do people get my skins?

When people download your Word2U Messenger, they will initially get up to 4 of your skins (of your choosing, of course) and can then download additional skins from your custom Skins Page or personal Word2U Messenger Home Page.

Your friends will also share your Word2U Messenger skin with each other automatically when they message, spreading the word about your Word2U Messenger! This is MECA’s patented SkinSharing technology, which allows your skin to be seen by people your friends message with.

Can people get more skins than the four skins in my skin package?

Your friends can download and use as many of your skins as they want. In addition to getting the skins in your skin package at download, your fans can get your skins by:

• Going to your custom skins page and downloading new skins
• Going to your personal Word2U Messenger Home Page in the MECA messengers network
• SkinSharing with others. When a member SkinShares, their skin automatically gets downloaded into the friend’s skin manager for them to use

Creating Skins

What are the guidelines for posting skin images?

MECA is committed to providing our members with a secure, comfortable environment. We reserve the right to delete any image at our discretion.

Photo Guidelines:

• All photos must be submitted in .jpg or .gif format, and can be no larger than 1MB.
• Pictures should be at least 492 width x 347 pixels in size.
• You can only upload files from your computer, no URLs.
• Copyrighted images may not be posted if you do not own the copyright.

I am getting an error that says my file is the wrong format, how can I change it?

Your file must be in .gif or .jpg format to use it for a Word2U Messenger skin. You can convert your images a couple of different ways:

To convert your image to .jpg format (Windows users):

• From your start menu, go to Programs > Accessories > Paint.
• In the Paint program at the top of the program, select File > Open and choose the file that you would like to use. Make sure it's not too large, as our file size limit is 1MB.
• Select Image > Attributes to check the size and/or crop your photo. Once you have photo sized and cropped how you like, select File > Save As.
• At the bottom of the window select the drop down menu beside the Save as type and select .jpg from the menu. It's that easy!

I am getting an error that says my file is too big, how do I make it smaller?

You may use a file up to 1MB for your skin. If your file is larger than 1MB you’ll need to resize it to below 1MB before you can create your skin.

You can use an application called IrfanView to resize your image file. To get a FREE version of this product, go to www.download.com and search on “IrfanView” in their software section.

Once you have downloaded and installed IrfanView, run the program, open your image (remember .gif or jpgs only!) and re-save it under a new file name (like adding an “a” at the end).

After you’ve finished resizing your image file, you’ll be all set to create you new skin!

I am getting an error that says my image is too large or not square enough, how can I crop it or make it smaller?

To resize your image (Windows users):

From your start menu, go to Programs > Accessories > Paint.
In the Paint program at the top of the program, select File > Open and choose the file that you would like to use. Make sure it's not too large, as our file size limit is 1MB.
Select Image > Attributes to check the size and/or crop your photo. Once you have photo sized and cropped how you like, select File > Save As.
At the bottom of the window select the drop down menu beside the Save as type and select .jpg from the menu. It's that easy!

How do I create a Skin?

To create a skin, log in to the Word2U Messenger management tool, from the home page select the Skins tab or click the “Make a Skin” button. Follow the steps and at the end you’ll have a great new skin for your Word2U Messenger! To make things easier for you, we’ve included helpful tips and explanations on the page for you.

What is a Skin Name?

You will enter a name for your skin during the skin creation process. This name appears under the skin on your custom skin page, Word2U Messenger Home Page and in the Word2U Messenger’s skin manager. Make sure it’s what you want when you create your skin because this field is not editable!

What is a Skin Description?

The skin description is an optional description that you can add when you create your skin. The description will display below your skin name in the Word2U Messenger skin manager, and as rollover copy on your custom skins and Word2U Messenger Home Pages. Make sure it’s what you want when you create your skin because this field is not editable!

When will the skin I created be live?

Your new skin will be posted to your custom skins and Word2U Messenger Home Pages as well as in the MECA IM skins network within moments of creation. If you have your Word2U Messenger Home Page open and make your new skin, you will need to refresh the page before it will display.

Skin Package

What is a Skin Package?

A skin package is a special set of skins selected by you that downloads with your Word2U Messenger. This allows you to have your custom content to your friends as soon as they sign on and begin messaging.

What is a Default Skin?

The default skin is the skin that you select to display when your friends first begin messaging on your Word2U Messenger. The default skin will continue to display until the member updates their skin, either by selecting to use one of the other skin package skins stored in their skin manager, or by going to the MECA IM skins network and downloading a new one.

How do I select Skins to be Included in my Word2U Messenger Skin Package?

To select the skins included in your Word2U Messenger skin package, check the box next to “Include Skin with initial Word2U Messenger Download” while you are creating your skin. Or, check the box "Include with Download" on the Word2U Messenger management tool home page.

How many skins can be included in my skin package?

You can select from 0-4 skins to be included in the skin package that gets downloaded with your custom Word2U Messenger. But, keep in mind, your skin content is a key marketing tool for your Word2U Messenger, so you’ll want to make sure your friends effortlessly get as many as possible when they download!

Can I change which skins are in my skin package?

Absolutely! You can update this as often as you’d like. Some reasons you may want to update your skin package are:

• You have created new skins that you want to highlight
• You’ve noticed trends on skin popularity (in your skin stats) and want to include your member’s favorites

Managing Skins

Can I edit my existing skins?

At this time you cannot edit your skins once they are posted, so please verify that they’re just what you want before submitting them to us. You can always make a skin you don’t like inactive so it will no longer be available for others to download.

Can I hide or delete skins that I don't want anymore?

Yes, you can choose to either hide or delete a skin that you don’t want anymore.

Hiding a Skin

• On the home page of your Word2U Messenger management tool locate the skin you would like to hide.
• Un-check the ‘Active’ box and then click ‘Update’ to change the status of your skin to inactive.
• Inactive skins will not display or be available for others to download, but they may continue to be used by people who have already downloaded them.
• Inactive skins will remain in your Word2U Messenger management tool where you can update their status at anytime.

Deleting a Skin

• On the home page of your Word2U Messenger management tool locate the skin you would like to delete.
• Check the ‘Delete’ box and then click ‘Update’ to permanently delete your skin.
• Deleted skins will no longer display for you or others and they will not be available to download.
• Those who have already downloaded and are using the skin you deleted will notice that your skin image has been replaced with the Word2U Messenger default skin image.

Can I feature or highlight a skin somehow?

Yes. You can feature one or more skins by selecting them for your Skin Package or by selecting them to display in the "Featured" section of your custom skins and Word2U Messenger Home Pages. See "Custom Skins Page: How do I feature skins on my Skins Page?" to learn how to do this.

'Spread the Word' Ads

What are 'Spread the Word' ads?

‘Spread the Word’ ads are images and an associated code snippet for Word2U Messenger owners and their members to use to promote (spread the word about) your Word2U Messenger on webpages, MySpace pages, blogs, etc. They show up on the page as a clickable ad. In both cases, when someone clicks on the ad from a website they will automatically be directed to your Word2U Messenger Home Page where they can find out about your Word2U Messenger and download it.

How do I use the 'Spread the Word' ads?

Go to the “Spread the Word” tab in the Word2U Messenger management tool and copy the code associated with the ad you like onto your website, MySpace page, blogs, etc.

Can I create my own branded 'Spread the Word' ads?

Not at this time. If you think this would be a powerful tool to use in your marketing efforts, please let us know! word2ufeedback@meca.com.

Custom Skins Page

What is a custom skins page?

The custom skins page is a page that includes all the active skins you have made for your Word2U Messenger. When someone using your Word2U Messenger chooses to get more skins they will be linked directly to your custom skins page that has your custom web header on it.

How will my Skins display on my Skins Page?

Your skins will display alphabetically in either the ‘My Featured Skins’ or My Skins Collection’ section depending on what section you selected for each individual skin.

How do I add or update the categories on my Skins Page?

To update the categories on your Skins Page login to the Word2U Messenger management tool and update the “My Featured Skins" header and “My Skins Collection” header fields on the home page.

How do I feature skins on my Skins Page?

When you create your skin you will select the section you would like you skin to display in by checking or not checking the box “Make this a featured skin”. You can change your selection later on the home page in the Word2U Messenger management tool by checking the box labeled "Featured Skin".

My Word2U Messenger Home Page

What is my Word2U Messenger Home Page?

Your personal Word2U Messenger Home Page will exist in the MECA messengers network where people can browse and find your Word2U Messenger to download. Your Word2U Messenger Home Page will include your Word2U Messenger name, description, skins, a link to download it and a link to a page with your “Spread the Word” ads.

Deactivated Accounts

How do I reactivate my account that was deactivated by MECA?

If you have attempted to log in to the Word2U Messenger management tool and received a notice stating that your account has been administratively deactivated, please send us an email to word2ufeedback@meca.com explaining your desire to reactivate your account. Please include your Word2U Messenger name, screen name, contact name and a contact phone number and reason for deactivation. An account representative will contact you shortly to work on a resolution with you.

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Skins

What are skins?

Skins let you change the appearance of your messenger and personalize it with images of your favorite things. With MECA you can express your creativity and customize your own skins using pictures of you and your friends, your favorite pet, a place you love to hang out, or even a graphical image that you designed yourself! You can also select from the hundreds of skins in the MECA Skins Network to give your messenger a unique look.

What is the Skin Manager?

The Skin Manager allows you to view and manage your entire skin collection. Click the GET icon on your Buddie Remote or Message Window and select GET A SKIN from the drop-down menu. Your skins will be stored in one of two folders.

MY SKINS FOLDER
The "My Skins" folder contains all of the skins you have downloaded from the Skins Network. Your messenger also comes prepackaged with a few skins, click the plus sign next to the “My Skins” folder to see what’s in your skin collection.

SHARED SKINS FOLDER
The "Shared Skins" folder contains all of the skins you viewed through SkinSharing™ while messaging with your MECA Buddies. Skins in the Shared Skins folder will not be stored forever. If you would like to add a skin from this folder to your permanent collection in the ‘My Skins” folder you can either click and drag it to “My Skins” or double-click to use it and it will be added to the “My Skins” folder automatically.

How many skins can I keep in my Skin Manager?

You can download and store as many skins as you want! To view your collection of skins click the GET icon on your Buddie Remote or Message Window anytime and select GET A SKIN from the drop-down menu, this will open your Skin Manager.

How do I get new skins?

• Click the GET icon on your Buddie Remote or Message Window anytime and select GET A SKIN from the drop-down menu, this will open your Skin Manager.
• Click on the GET NEW SKIN button at the bottom of the Skin Manager form to open the Skins Network on the web where you can browse the entire skin collection.
• When you find a skin you want, click on it and it will automatically be downloaded to your Skin Manager and become your new skin.
• There is no limit to the number of skins you can download.

How do I change my skin?

• Click the GET icon on your Buddie Remote or Message Window anytime and select GET A SKIN from the drop-down menu, this will open your Skin Manager.
• Your Skin Manager will open and you can view your skin collection.
• Change your skin by double-clicking a skin from the list or by highlighting a skin name and then clicking the USE button.
• Your skin will change instantly.

How do I make my own skin?

1. Open Skin Builder
• Click the GET icon on your messenger Buddie Remote or Message Window and select MAKE A SKIN from the drop-down menu, this will open the Skin Builder.
  
  
2. Select the image for your skin.
• Browse your computer files to find the image you want to use for your custom skin. For example, you could use a picture of you and your friends, your favorite pet, a place you love to hang out, or even a graphical image that you designed yourself!

  Image Tips:

  Image dimensions
  For best results your image should be at least 492 pixels wide x 347 pixels high or larger. If your image is smaller than the minimum size of 492x347 it will be stretched when your skin is created, this can make your pictures look kind of funky. If your image is too large for our system you will be notified when you try to create your skin.

  Note - The image size is usually included in the description when you roll-over your image file. For example: (492 pixels wide x 347 pixels high). Please use your favorite image editing software, like PhotoShop or Paint.Net to resize or crop your image to the suggested dimensions.

  Image file type
  Your image should be either a GIF or a JPEG file.

  If you’re using Windows, follow these easy steps to convert your image to a JPEG:

  • From the Start menu, go to Programs > Accessories > Paint.
  • At the top of the Paint program, select File > Open and choose the file that you would like to use.
  • From the File menu, select Save As, type in a name and select JPEG.

  Image file size
  Your image should be no larger than 1MB.

  If you are notified you that your image file is too big when you try to make your skin, please use your favorite image editing software, like PhotoShop or Paint.Net, and try either reducing the color depth, cropping, or resizing your image.

3. Name your skin.
• Tell us what you’d like to call your skin - the more fun the better! The name of your skin will display below your image in the skins network on the web where people can browse and download your skin. Once downloaded, your skin will be listed by its name in each person’s skin collection on their messenger. Skin names have a 64 character length maximum.
  
  
4. Create a description.
• We know you may not be able to squeeze everything into a skin name, so enter a description to tell everyone more about your skin! For example: Who or what is in your picture? Where and when was it taken? You could also include your favorite quote, a poem, etc… We know a picture is worth a thousand words… but try to stick to the 240 characters length limit!
  
  
5. Decide on a few tag words.

   Tags are one-word descriptors that you can include with your skin, for search purposes.

• Separate your tags with a space. If your tag is two words, like "San Francisco", do not include the space, enter it as "sanfrancisco".
• Tags are not case-sensitive.
• You can enter several tags up to the 256 character length limit.
• The tags won’t be visible to anyone but they will be used when someone is searching for skins.
  For example, if you make a skin from a Spring Break picture and included the tags: Mexico beach party snorkeling, when someone searches under the word “beach” your skin will show in the search results.
  
  
6. Select a category.
• Please select a category for your skin: People, Places or Things. Your skin will display in one of these categories in the Community Skins section on the skins network. We’d love to hear your suggestions for new categories. so please let us know your ideas at feedback@mecamessenger.com.
  
  
7. Select a Buddie Remote color
• Please select the color of the Buddie Remote you will see when using your skin.
  Tip: Since the Buddie Remote and skin will display on your desktop at the same time, select a color that is complimentary to your skin.
  
  
  • Click the small color square you want.
  • Click the UPDATE PREVEW button to see how it will look before clicking the CREATE SKIN button.
  • If you don’t like the color you picked, simply select another color and try again.  
    
    
8. Click the CREATE SKIN button and you are done!

How do I manage my skins?

You can manage your skins by hiding or unhiding them in the skins network. Did you decide you didn’t like the image you used? Not to worry, you can hide your skin so people can’t see it or download it from the skins network. If your friends already have a skin you made and subsequently hid, then it will still be available for them to use. If you’ve hidden a skin and now want it to show again, then you simply uncheck the “Hide this Skin” box and it’ll show up in the skins network again.

What are the guidelines for posting skin images?

Skin content may not include reference to: tobacco or alcohol products, profanity, pornography, violence, prejudicial content, or links to any such content.  Skin content may not violate applicable laws or intellectual property rights. To report a content violation please email us at customerservice@meca.com

How much does it cost to make a skin?

It’s FREE!

How many skins can I make?

You can make as many skins as you want!

How long will it take for my skin to show in the skins network?

It only takes a few minutes for the skin you made to display in the Community Skins area located at http://www.mecamessenger.com/browseskins.jsp?id=20004.

How do I get my skin after I make it?

There are two ways to download your new skin to your messenger and begin using it.

• Click the image on the Manage My Skins page after you’ve made your skin. Your skin will automatically download and become the new skin on your messenger.
• Find your skin in the skins network and click on it to download.

How do I find my skin in the skins network?

• Navigate to the category where you put your skin and browse through all the skins. (They are listed in alphabetical order)
• You can use the search box to type in part or all of your skin’s name and or tag words. (This is a lot faster but you don’t get to see all the other cool skins people made!)
• To view all of your skins, do a search by your own screen name.

Can I edit my skin after I have made it?

No, once your skin has been posted on the skins network you cannot edit it. You can, however, hide your skin so no one else can download it from the skins network. See Hide/Unhide This Skin (above) for details

 

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SkinSharing™

What is SkinSharing?

• MECA Communications, Inc.'s patent pending SkinSharing technology allows your skin to be seen by those you message with and vice versa.
• This exciting feature has never been offered by any other instant messaging service.
• There are two types of skin sharing situations:

1. The first is aMECA Buddie to MECA Buddie skin share. For example: You are using your favorite Idol skin, and your MECA Buddie is using the MECA logo skin. When you message with your MECA Buddie, your skin will fade out, and their skin will display on your Message Window, replacing yours, and vice versa.
2. The second SkinSharing situation is between MECA and an InterOp Messenger, such as MSN. For example: You are using your favorite Idol skin, and you send a message from MECA to a contact on your InterOp MSN Messenger list. To share your skin with your MSN contact you can click the "SkinShare" button on your Message Window. Your MSN Buddie will receive a descriptive link they can click to preview your skin. Your Buddie will also have the option to download MECA and the skin.
   

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Screen Names

What is a screen name?

• A screen name is your personal "alias" that allows your MECA Buddies to recognize you.
• You will create your screen name when you register.
• Your screen name must be original, containing between 1 and 64 characters.
• Your screen name is not your email address. Your email address is something like username@domain.com

What if the screen name I want has already been registered?

• If your screen name is not available, a message will appear saying that the screen name you have entered is already in use. Try variations of your original choice. For example, if your first choice is "IdolFan", try "IdolFan1" or if your first choice is "IdolFan" and you are from England try "IdolFanENG."
• Make your screen name unique... remember this is how all your MECA Buddies will recognize you!

How do I get additional screen names?

• To obtain additional screen names go to the registration page and complete the form once for each new screen name.
• Complete the registration of your new screen name, and if prompted to download, click cancel (as you already have MECA installed).
• Run MECA and login with your newly created account.

How do I change users?

• To change users, you will have to disable "Automatically Login."
• On the Buddie Remote™ go to Manage> My Preferences > General.
• Uncheck "Automatically Login."
• Click "OK."
• Right click the MECA icon in your taskbar and select "Log off," or "Sign out and Exit" from the menu.
• The new user can now log in.

How do I switch between my screen names?

• Right click the MECA icon in your taskbar and select "Switch Screen Name" from the menu.
• Login with the desired screen name.

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Creating Nicknames

What is a Nickname?

• A nickname is a name that you can give to a Buddie on your Buddie List to replace the screen name displayed during your messaging experience. Who is “mammmamoto342”? Now you will know that this buddy is “Donna”.
• It doesn’t matter what messenger your Buddie is on – you can create a nickname for anyone. What’s really cool is that you can name them anything you want because you’ll be the only one who sees it!

How do I do it?

• There are four ways you can create a nickname for a Buddie:

1. Click on a buddy name, wait a second and click again. The name becomes editable and you can type in the name you want to give your buddy.
2. From your Buddie Remote, select a Buddie name (MECA or InterOp), and hit “F2”
3. Right-click on your Buddie's name, and select "Create Nickname" from the drop-down menu.
   
   
   The screen name area will become editable; type in the nickname (letters, numbers and special characters can be used. The maximum length is 255 characters) Once you’re done, hit “Enter” or click somewhere outside the edit box. The nickname will display instead of the screen name in your Buddie List.
   
   
4. Include a nickname when you add your Buddie from the Add Buddie button.

Note: Pressing escape while editing the name will return that Buddie’s name back to the original display name.

Can I change a nickname?

• Yes, as long as you are logged in to the messenger, you can update a Buddie nickname at any time, it doesn’t matter if they are online or not.
• Follow the same steps to update a nickname as you would to create a new one.

Note: Pressing escape while editing the name will return that Buddie’s name back to the previous nickname.

Can I delete a nickname?

• Yes, you can delete a Buddie’s nickname:

1. Select the Buddie nickname you wish to delete and press F2; or Right-click on your Buddie's name, and select "Create Nickname."
2. Backspace to delete the nickname so it is blank.
3. Press “Enter” or make the edit box loose focus.
4. Your Buddie’s display name will be the original display name.

Will I always see the nicknames?

• The nickname you have given to a Buddie will display until you change or delete it, or you delete your Buddie - as long as you are using the same computer that you used when you created the nicknames.
• Your Buddies’ nicknames won’t display if:

1. If you sign on to the messenger using a different computer than the one you were using when you created the nickname(s). (You can create new ones for this computer!)
2. If you sign on to the messenger using the same computer but a different screen name than the one you were using when you created the nickname(s). (Again, you can create new ones for this account!)

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Translation

What are MECA Translations?

• MECA uses a computer translation technology to provide real-time translation as you use the instant messenger. Visit our Translations page for more information.
• Click on the "Translate" button on your Message Window and you will get a drop down list of languages to choose from.
• Choose the language you wish to type in. For example: you can write in Italian and the person with whom you are messaging will see it in whatever language they have chosen. If they have chosen English, then as you message, they will see your Italian words in English and you will see their English words in Italian.
• You can opt for both translated and non-translated text to be shown.

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Time Stamp

What is a Time Stamp?

The Time Stamp records the time a message was created. The time appears beside the screen name.

How do I use it?

The default is set to "off" but you can change that by:

1. Toggle it off and on by pressing the F2 key
   
2. Go to Manage > My Preferences > Messages. At the bottom of the window check or uncheck the box that says, "Display time stamp for each message."

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Offline Messages

How do I send a message when my Buddie is offline?

1. Select a Buddie who is offline in MECA, Yahoo!, or ICQ (These are the only IM companies that support "offline messaging." AIM and MSN do not support offline messages.)
2. Double click on your Buddie's name to open a Message Window.
3. Type your message and press "Send."
4. A window will pop up that says, "Your Buddie appears to be offline. This message will be received when they login."
5. Your message will be stored and appear in their Message Window when they log on and open their offline messages.

How do I receive a message that was sent to me while I was offline?

1. Right after you log in, an Offline Message form will open with a list of your messages and when they were received. If you do not respond or save these messages they will be deleted when you log off.
2. Double click on a row and the message will open in your Conversation Window in a skin.
3. Click "Save" in the Conversation Window to save the message.
4. Highlight the message in the Offline Message Window to delete or reply.

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Message Logging

What is message logging?

• When turned on, this records all your conversations.
• Be careful because these files can grow very quickly and bog down your computer.
• If you chose to utilize it, keep checking on the file size and delete often.

How do I turn it on?

1. Go to Manage > My Preferences > Message Logging.
2. Check the appropriate boxes and decide where you want your file folder to live.
3. Click "OK."

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Save a Conversation or a Chat

How do I save a conversation?

1. Click "Save" on your Message Window.
2. The save form comes up for you to choose where to save your conversations and what to call them.
3. Whatever is in the Conversation part of the window (not the typing part on the bottom) will be saved along with the date and time.

*Note: In order to save, there must be a conversation that consists of a message and a response.

How do I read my saved conversations or chats?

• To read your saved conversations, double click your file and it will open in your browser.
• It will display the date, time, from, to and message for each line.

*Note: When the Conversation Window or the chat window is empty the "Save" button is disabled.

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Chat

Does MECA have chat rooms?

• No. There are no dedicated chat rooms but you can still chat.
• To chat, a Buddie must invite you or you must create the chat and send an invitation to your Buddie(s).

How do I start a chat?

1. Click "Actions" on your Buddie Remote or "Chat" on your Message Window.
2. Select Chat > Start a Chat from the drop down menu.
3. The "Invite Buddies to Chat" form will open and you can select the names of the Buddies from your Buddie List that you want to chat with.
4. Click on arrows between the windows to invite Buddies to your chat.
5. Click "Invite Others" to invite Non-Buddies.
6. You can invite up to 25 Buddies at a time (including yourself).
7. Click "Send" to start the chat.

How do I invite more Buddies into an existing chat?

• In the chat room you created, click "Chat."
• Select "Invite More Buddies."

Can I chat with Buddies on multiple messengers in one chat room?

• No. Currently the messenger does not support this InterOp Chat feature.

*Note: If you have InterOp IM accounts you can set up multiple chats. For example: invite your AIM Buddies into one chat and your MSN Buddies to another.

What do the graphics on the Chat Form mean?

• In the lower right corner, you will see four cool graphics. Right click on any of them to remind you of their function.
• Click on a name and then on the orange bubble to send a private message to that person while you are in the Chat session.
• Pick someone you don't want to talk with and click the circle with the line through it. That says, "Ignore this person." A little rude but sometimes necessary.
• Click on a name and the "I" and you will get the profile of that person.
• Click the file icon to send a file.

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Blast

What is a Blast?

Blast is a message that can be sent to multiple buddies simultaneously. There are currently two different types of Blasts - Blast IM and Blast Email Invite. You can create a message on the Blast Message Window, select a group of buddies to receive it and then send your message to all of them at the same time!

How do I send a Blast?

To Blast an instant message…

• Click the SEND A BLAST icon on your Buddie Remote™ or Message Window and select BLAST IM from the drop-down menu.
• In your Buddie List, check the box next to the screen names of the buddies you want to send your message to.
• In your Blast Message Window, type your message and then click the BLAST button to send the “Blast off”.

To Blast an email invitation

• Click the SEND A BLAST icon on your Buddie Remote™ or Message Window and select BLAST EMAIL INVITE from the drop-down menu.
• After you login to the website, enter the names and email addresses of the friends you want to invite to join you on your messenger.
• Click the “Blast Invitation” button to send the invitation email.

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Broadcast

What is a Broadcast?

Broadcasts are real-time instantaneous IM messages sent to enhance your messaging experience.

Be sure to check out the skin your broadcast message is delivered with. It may include a cool skin link to take you to a related web page. And remember, the broadcast skin will be saved in your Shared Skins folder so you can use it later.

If you are not online when the Broadcast is sent it will be stored in your Offline Messages, but only for the period of time specified by the sender. So login in often so you are sure not to miss any important Broadcasts!

How do I reply to a Broadcast?

The current Broadcast messages are not interactive so it’s not possible to send a reply. However, if you get a broadcast you think some of your buddies would like too you can forward it to them using Blast.

How do I sign-up to receive more Broadcasts?

You can opt-in to receive broadcasts from any of the Experience Messengers on the MECA IM network that offer this feature. There are two places where you will have the opportunity to sign-up for broadcasts; during registration for an Experience Messenger and/or on an Experience Messenger skin page in the MECA Skin Network.

• On your messenger registration page there will be an option to check if you would like to be added to your Experience Messenger’s announcement list. Check the box to opt-in.
• While browsing the MECA Skin Network you will find broadcast opt-ins on the participating Experience Messenger skin pages. Click the button to opt-in.

I don’t want to receive these Broadcasts anymore.  How do I turn them off?

You will only receive broadcasts you have previously signed-up for (or chosen not to opt-out of). There are three places where you can opt-out of receiving broadcasts; during registration for an Experience Messenger, on an Experience Messenger skin page in the MECA Skin Network and directly from any broadcast you receive.

• On your messenger registration page there will be an option to check if you would like to be added to your Experience Messenger’s announcement list. Un-check the box to opt-out.
• While browsing the MECA Skin Network you will find broadcast opt-ins on the participating Experience Messenger skin pages. Click the button to opt-out.
• You will have the option to opt-out of an Experience Messenger’s future broadcasts from each individual broadcast you receive.

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File Transfer

How do I transfer a file?

There are three ways you can access the file transfer feature:

• Right-click on a screen name in your Buddie List and select "Send a File."
• Click the SEND A FILE icon on your Message Window
• Click the SEND A FILE icon on your Buddie Remote™.

If a buddy’s screen name was not selected, then a dialog form will open where you can select a messenger and a buddy’s screen name from the drop-down lists.

The Send File form will open, then:

• Click "Browse" to select for the file you want to send.
• Enter a file description for your friend.
• Click "Send."

Can I send files to my InterOp Buddies?

Yes, you can send files to your AIM, MSN and Yahoo! InterOp buddies.

*Note: AIM, MSN and Yahoo! messenger file transfer restrictions may apply to file size, number of flies sent and file transfers behind a firewall or proxy.

Is there a size limit for file transfers?

No, there is not a size limit on file transfers you send from MECA. Please keep in mind your Internet connection speed when transferring files. Modems (dialups) take a lot longer.

Is there a limit to how many file transfers I can send?

No, there is not a limit to the number of file transfers you can send from MECA. Please keep in mind that each “Send File” form can only send one file, however you can open an unlimited number of “Send File” forms at the same time.

Will file transfers work behind a firewall or proxy?

Yes, file transfers will work when either you or your buddy is behind a firewall or proxy.

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Invite New Buddies™

How do I invite my friends and family to use MECA?

1. Select "Invite a Friend" from the Actions menu and enter your screen name and password so the messenger can verify your email address.
2. Next, enter the names and email addresses of the people who you think would enjoy using MECA.
3. We will then send them an introductory email that includes your screen name so they can start messaging with you right away.

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Status and Away Messages

What is Set Status?

• You can set an online Global Status or an individual status for MECA and each of your InterOp IM accounts.
• Online statuses include messages like "Away", "Busy", and "On The Phone."
• Your status will appear on your friends' Buddie Lists™ next to your screen name as an icon, and their status will appear as an icon to you.
• Mouse over your Buddie's screen name to see what status their icon represents.

What is Global Status?

• If you set a Global Status that means your status will be the same on MECA and all your InterOp IM accounts.
• The Global Status selection includes: Online, Away, Busy, Be Right Back, Not At My Desk, On The Phone, and Out To Lunch and Invisible.

How do I set my Global Status?

You can set your status from three places:

• The Manage menu, by a right click on the MECA taskbar icon.
• By a right click on any IM header in your Buddie List.
• From Manage > My Status form, where you can select ALL IM's (top left) to set a Global Status or select a status for each of your IM accounts.

Can I set my own Away messages?

Yes, you can set away messages for MECA and your InterOp IM accounts that support customized away messages (AIM and Yahoo!).

How do I set my own Away messages?

There are two ways to set your Away messages that are stored in My Preferences:

1. Right-click the MECA header in your Buddie List, (or one of your InterOp IM account headers).
   • Choose Set Status > New Message.
   • The My Preferences form will open to the Away Message form.
   • Click "New" button.
   • Create a title and text for your message.
   • Click "Save" button.
   • If you would like to use your new message immediately, highlight your new message in the Away messages box and click "apply" button.
2. Click Manage > My Preferences> Away Message.
   • Select an IM account from the drop-down menu.
   • Click "New" button, create a title and text for your message.
   • Click "Save" button.
   • If you would like to use your new message immediately, highlight your new message in the Away messages box and click "apply" button.

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Ghost Mode

What is Ghost Mode?

• Whooh!!! Ghost Mode allows you to appear to be offline when actually you are online.
• You can be online working and still send and receive messages.
• People messaging you will think you are offline and not expect a response right away.

How do I set up Ghost Mode?

You can set it up in five ways. Take your pick:

1. When the login form appears, check "Login as Invisible."
2. Manage > My Preferences > General. Check "Login as Invisible." (The "Manage" button is on the top right of your Buddie Remote.)
3. Right click the MECA header in the Buddie Remote.
   • Select: Set Status > Ghost Mode. You will see "Ghost Mode" in parenthesis beside the MECA header. Anyone looking at your status will see your screen name under the "Offline" section but will not see "Ghost Mode" beside your name.
4. If you have set up your InterOp accounts, right click on each messenger in turn on your Buddie Remote. You can set each messenger to its Ghost Mode equivalent:
   • MSN = "Appear Offline"
   • AIM = "Away"
   • Yahoo! = "Invisible"
   • ICQ = "Privacy"
5. Manage > My Global Status: The "My Status" form opens and you can use the pull down menus to set each status. Check above for the "Ghost Mode" equivalents. Click "OK".

*Note: You can be in different modes for each of your messenger. For example: You can choose to be "Online" in MECA and "Offline" everywhere else.

What happens if your Buddie sends you a message while you are in Ghost Mode?

• A message will pop up in your Buddie's Message Window that says, "Your Buddie appears to be offline. This message will be received when they login."
• You will receive the message as if you are online.
• Answering and blowing your cover is up to you.

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Hide Messenger

What is Hide Messenger?

Do you need to hide your conversation from your quickly approaching boss, mom, or teacher? No problem! Use the Hide Messenger feature to protect your privacy.

How do I hide my messenger?

• Quickly press <Ctrl H> on your keyboard to instantly hide all of your messenger application windows.
• Press <Ctrl H> again to un-hide your messenger application windows and continue your conversation.

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The MECA-lert™ Email Notification

What is MECA-lert?

• The MECA-lert is the little square that pops up to inform you of waiting email messages.
• After so many seconds it disappears but reappears as you get new messages.
• The items on the list are links. Click on one to go right to your message.

What if I don't want to get messages that way?

There are several ways to turn the MECA-lert off:

• If you have set up MSN and Yahoo! on your InterOp setup, the default is set to on.
  1. In order to turn it off go to Manage > My Preferences > InterOp.
  2. Uncheck "Enable Email Notification."
  3. Click "OK."
• For all others, go to Manage > My Preferences > Email Setup.

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Changing Stuff

How do I change my password?

1. On the the Buddie Remote, select Manage > My Profile. This will open a web page that requires you to login using your screen name and password.
2. Once logged in, click "Edit." You will see a new page showing your profile information.
3. Click "Update My Profile." An editable page will open and you can change your profile information.
4. Once finished, click "Update My Profile"
5. That will bring you back to your newly updated page and there will be a message at the top saying, "Your user information has been updated."
6. Next time you login to MECA use your new password.

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Errors!

I received a message saying "The MECA_setup.exe" is an invalid application.

Chances are that the download of the application was corrupted. Before attempting to re-download the application file again, you should clear your browser cache.

• If you are using Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer and go to Tools Menu > Internet Options.
2. In the General tab, click on Delete Files.
3. Close Internet Explorer and attempt to download and run MECA again.

I am behind a Firewall and/or Proxy and I cannot connect.

• If you are behind a Firewall and cannot connect, make sure that the Outgoing Port#10001 is open for the messenger to work.
• If you are behind a Proxy and cannot connect, contact your System Administrator.

I am having trouble downloading MECA.

• If you receive a connection refused message, which can sometimes be confused for a broken link, this means the server is full.
• Try a couple more times before reporting any problems.
• Please try downloading the setup file a second time if the setup is not working or is corrupt.
• For assistance and to report a problem please complete our Technical Support form.

Why is the first letter of each MSN message I receive missing?

Several instances have been reported that the first letter of each message sent by a MSN user connected via MECA to a MSN user connected via Trillian, is missing. We are aware of the problem and are currently investigating if there is any action that we can take to remedy the situation.

AOL is my Internet Service Provider (ISP), and I cannot connect to MECA.

If you are using AOL as your Internet Service Provider (ISP), [meaning you connect through AOL], then you are subject to restrictions set by AOL's Parental Controls. ** AOL Parental Controls must be set to General in order to use MECA. The General setting removes all restrictions on the AOL connection and allows access to all features and content on AOL and on the World Wide Web. AOL Parental Control settings affect all programs that access the Internet using the AOL connection, such as Netscape, Internet Explorer, or MSN Instant Messenger, and Yahoo Instant Messenger, and are not specific to MECA. Failure to set your Parental Controls to General will result in a connection error.

**If you have a dialup or broadband service provider (Cable Modem/DSL/T1) other than AOL, and simply access AOL through these services, then none of the above restrictions apply to you, as you are not affected by AOL Parental Controls.

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Support

How do I reach technical support?

If the FAQ and Help did not answer your question(s), please complete our Technical Support form.

I forgot my password! What do I do?

• Don't worry. Located on your MECA Login form is a "Forgot your Password?" link.
• Click on it and you will get to the Forgot Password? page.
• Fill in your screen name or your email address and we will email your password to you.

How do I uninstall MECA?

1. To uninstall, go to Start > Programs > MECA > Uninstall MECA.
2. Follow the instructions to uninstall.

How do I keep MECA from starting up and logging in when I start my computer?

• On the Buddie Remote go to Manage > My Preferences > General.
• Uncheck "Launch at Startup" and/or "Automatically Login."
• Click "OK."

How do I update my profile?

1. On the the Buddie Remote, select Manage > My Profile. This will open a web page that requires you to login using your screen name and password.
2. Once logged in, click "Edit." You will see a new page showing your profile information.
3. Click "Update My Profile." An editable page will open and you can change your profile information.
4. Once finished, click "Update My Profile."
5. That will bring you back to your newly updated page and there will be a message at the top saying, "Your user information has been updated."

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Channels

What are Channels?

• Channels enhance your messaging experience by bringing you content like contest updates, streaming video, and shopping right to your messenger! Watch for more Channels coming soon!

How do I use them?

• Just Click on the icon you want to explore.
• Use the arrows to scroll through the Channels.
• The last button on the right will allow you to change, add and delete the Channels that are visible in the Channel Row.

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