When you open a message in Microsoft Outlook, or when it is displayed in the Reading Pane, the online status of a person is shown beside the sender's name. In addition, online status is shown for people using Lync, regardless of whether or not they are on your contact list. Online status is available for any person whose instant messaging email address you have added to your instant messaging contact list. When you are on the phone, your online status can automatically be changed to alert others that you are not available. You can connect your instant messaging service, such as Microsoft Lync, to an organization's phone system allowing you to get on-screen alerts of incoming calls and reroute calls to another phone.

For example, if you are busy and unable to talk, you can change your online status to Busy. You control how your online status appears to others. Functionality varies among the instant messaging clients, including text chatting, audio and video conferencing, file sharing, and remote assistance collaboration by allowing others to temporarily take control of your computer. Visual representations of other people's availability, called online presence or status, permit you to instantly know if a person is online and available for a real-time conversation. You can now use audio and video with your chats, share applications, transfer files, and more. Instant messaging services have grown beyond just real-time text chats. Lync can also be connected to an organization's phone system, letting you get on-screen alerts of incoming calls and reroute calls to another phone. On the Contacts tab, under Contacts Index, select or uncheck the Display online status next to name check box. On the drop-down list, click Reply with IM or Reply All with IM. On the Message tab, in the Actions group, click More Actions. If you have an email message open, you can reply with an instant message to the sender or the sender and all recipients of the message. On the contact card, on the click the Instant Message icon, as represented by a speech bubble. When you open a message in Outlook 2010, or when it appears in the Reading Pane, the online status of a contact is shown: On the People tab, under Online status and photographs, select or uncheck the Display online status next to name check box. For example, if you are unavailable, you can change your online status to Busy.Ĭlick the File tab to open the Backstage view, and then click Options. You control how your online status is displayed to other people. On the Message tab, in the Respond group, click IM. Type your message in the lower section of the window, and then press Enter to send.

On the contact card, on the click the Instant Message or Send an IM icon, as represented by a speech bubble. Next to the person's name, click the online status indicator.

You can send an instant message to any person whose online status indicates anything except Offline. When you open a message in Outlook 2016 or 2013, or when it appears in the Reading Pane, the online status of a contact is shown:

These indicators appear for anyone in your Outlook contacts who has an instant messaging address in the IM address text box. How can I tell if my contacts are available?Ī visual representation of your contacts' availability, known as online presence or status, indicates if a person is online and available for a real-time conversation.

Skype status icons