Q: What is registration, and how do I register?
A: Registration is the process in which you select a screen name and password to be able to use the Instant Messenger (SM) service. Your screen name must be unique, containing between 3 and 16 characters (numbers and letters). You can't use the service without first registering.

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Q: How do I confirm my registration after I've registered?
A: After you register, Instant Messenger sends you e-mail, allowing you to confirm your registration request. You must respond to this e-mail within 48 hours to complete your registration. (The confirmation e-mail provides instructions on how to respond.) If you forget to respond within 48 hours, or if you lose the confirmation e-mail, Instant Messenger can send you the confirmation e-mail again. Select Sign On A Friend in the People menu, and click Send Me Confirmation Mail in the window that appears.

If you have never received a confirmation e-mail, it is possible that you mistyped your e-mail address when you registered for Instant Messenger. You can use the Update E-mail Address option to check your current e-mail address setting and to change that address (which takes 72 hours).

Windows: Select the File menu, click Options, and click Update E-mail Address.

Macintosh: From the Edit menu, select Account Options -> E-mail Address. Enter your correct e-mail address in the New address field, and click OK.

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Q: What if I accidentally typed the wrong e-mail address during registration?
A: You can easily update your e-mail address while signed on to Instant Messenger.

Windows: Select the File menu, click My Options, and select Update E-mail Address. Enter your correct e-mail address in the New e-mail address field, and click OK.

Macintosh: From the Edit menu, select Account Options -> E-mail Address. Enter your correct e-mail address in the New Address field, and click OK OK.

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Q: Why am I having problems registering?
A: There are several things to check for when you are experiencing problems registering:

Have you typed your e-mail address correctly in the proper format (for example, joeuser@domain.com)?

If you are an America Online member, be sure that you entered the zip code listed in your America Online account information.

Did you choose a password and enter it twice correctly?

Did you choose a screen name that isn't already in use?