I get many questions on how to setup an iChat account. This is fairly easy although it does take a number steps. NOTE: This also helps if you need to brush up on adding a new account. Here it goes…

1) You must have a instant messenger account of some kind. The two common ones used is either an AIM (aol instant messenger) or MobileMe (Apple’s once named .Mac account). AIM is free and you canclick here to sign up. MobileMe is $99 dollars a year.

2) Open the application iChat.

3) When open you choose iChat > System Preferences from the menu bar at the top.

4) System preferences will have multiple tabs you can choose. You should select the tab named accounts.

5) The bottom left of iChat System Preferences > Accounts you’ll see a plus and minus. Press the plus to add a new account.

6) This is where you fill out your user information you created. Make sure you select AIM under account type if thats what you created. Otherwise if your using MobileMe you keep it on .Mac/MobileMe both are the same. Then just fill out your username and password and press the Add button.

7) Now your new buddy list should open up. Unfortunately at this point you have no buddies to chat with. So call a friend and find out there username for AIM or MobileMe. I hope this helped.