From the way you describe it, I would have to guess that "chikka messenger" is not an official piece of software that is installed or supported by your IT department. If you have a legitimate use for the software, have your managers work with the IT department, so they will support you, instead of finding ways to shut the software down.

If there isn't a legitimate business use for the software, I guess your IT department did as it's supposed to, it's keeping unauthorized traffic off the network, and eliminating a possible doorway to viruses, spyware and other IT attacks.

I'm not an IT person, but I understand they have their jobs to do, and I find it easier to work with them, not find ways to go around them. Good luck.

Tom

Excellent advice.

As a former IT manager for a mid-size company we seemed to have a never ending battle against those addicted to instant messaging for personal use. They were always trying to outsmart us, even though the published company policy strictly forbade it.

Instant messaging services are a prime source of viruses, malware and back door intrusions/invasions into the corporate network. We often had to go so far as to restrict internet and network availability to chronic abusers.

Please, please, please work with your IT staff to avoid creating problems that could cripple your company's ability to do business. It is that serious!!

Hooker

At my place we have a code of Conduct which is actually enforced. Some shi*head tries IM, porno, he gets a leave of absense.

The Code must be written. The employees must sign off that they received it. They go to training.

Later, when they get caught, they cannot say that they were unaware of these IT policies.

Good on your company because it gets really crazy sometimes.

When we drafted our Internet/network use policy we had one of our two legal beagles review it for statutory validity before publishing. I later had to collect up this same lawyer's emails as evidence as we found out he was sexually harassing a woman (not an employee) via company email.

Not only did he get fired, he got arrested.

We also had a manager (an officer in the Air Force reserve, no less) that delighted in sending gross not-quite-porn pictures to various employees, including me, the IT manager. He thought it was funny. After 3 requests to stop I turned off his email and net access. When he called me to report the outage, I told him I knew and that I caused it. He seemed shocked that I would follow through on company policy. And, actually, I could have been liable had I not. I let him stew for about a week and turned everything back on after he apologized and promised not to do it anymore.

Sometimes you just have to go to the extreme to get the point across in this overly permissive society.

Hooker

Hello eriew:

Harrah.......Is that how you spell it?.................

I can see no reason why anyone would want to use IM ! at work.

The reason to go to work IS TO WORK!

How many people are paid 7 hours to work and an hours or so to 'chat on IM?

Good on you my friend.

Hello ironwill:

I hope this helps......................

This site is detailed in the lists under the 'Chikka Messenger Online Help' below.

http://indiatimes.chikka.com/help/chikka-messenger-manual-india.html

Chikka Messenger Online Help

Beginner's Guide to Chikka

Chikka Messenger Manual

Chikka on Mobile Phones

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Return to Indiatimes-Chikka Messenger Home Page

Chikka Messenger Manual

Installation

System Requirements »

To install the Chikka Messenger, the minimum systems are as follows:

• Windows 95/98/2000/XP/ME/NT 4.0 and Vista
• Internet access
• Soundcard (optional): 8-bit or 16-bit
• Processor: Intel Pentium processor or equivalent
• RAM: 32 MB
• Disk space: 8 MB
• Internet Explorer browsers version 4.0 and above

For Macintosh, Linux, Sun, Solaris Users, use Chikka Javalite.

Using Chikka on your PC »

Download the Chikka Messenger. To download, click here. After downloading is complete, save the application on your hard drive. Go to the folder where you saved the application and run the application to start installing Chikka on your PC.

When the application is installed, log in to the Chikka Messenger and start messaging away!

Signing-Up

Unified Account vs. PC Only Account

When you sign-in to Chikka using your mobile phone number and password (retrieved by sending an SMS to the operator-supplied shortcode) you enjoy the full benefits of a Unified Account. This makes the Chikka Messenger and your mobile phone virtual extensions of each other. When you are offline, you have the option of having your messages forwarded to your mobile phone. The Chikka ID, in this case your phone number, is permanent. To register for a Unified Account, you are required to provide your mobile number to be able to successfully register your account. Registering from your mobile phone will cost you regular value-added service rates.

A PC-only Account allows you to register for a Chikka ID even without a mobile phone. Like any Chikka user, you will be able to receive and send messages to mobile phone users from your PC. For PC-only Account holders, your Chikka ID is a combination of digits that begin with 00 (except for India PC-Only Accounts where the Chikka ID begins with 01). Your Chikka ID is the Chikka ID number you are automatically assigned to by the Chikka system, unless you specify an ID number you prefer upon registration. Click on the link above if you want to register for a PC Only Account. Registering for your Chikka account using your PC is absolutely free!

Using Chikka

Logging-In

Log in using your Chikka ID/mobile number and your password to launch the Chikka by Indiatimes client.

Sending and Receiving Messages

If you are online and logged on to the Chikka Messenger, click on your friend's name in your buddy list and type your message in the window that appears and click Send.

If the intended recipient is not yet on your buddy list:

1. Click on Options on the Control Panel and choose Send Message.
2. Enter your friend's mobile number (country code + mobile number, eg. 919827029013) and type your message in the window that appears and click Send. Your recipient will be added automatically to your buddy list.
3. Assign a screen name to your buddy and click OK.

With the Chikka Messenger, you can send online messages to other registered users and SMS messages to mobile subscribers of our supported carriers. Please see the Supported Carriers section for a complete list of our partner mobile carriers in [list countries here, eg. UK, US, etc…].

To send a SMS message to a mobile subscriber abroad:

1. Click on Options on the Control Panel and choose Send Message.
2. Enter mobile number by keying in country code + mobile number (eg. 447854436495) and type your message in the window that appears and click Send. Your recipient will be added automatically to your buddy list.
3. Assign a screen name to your buddy and click OK.

When your friends are idle, you can still send them messages. However, only friends with unified mobile accounts will receive your message at once, users with PC only accounts will receive them the next time they log on to the Chikka Messenger.

When a message is received, a message icon will appear beside the name of the buddy who sent you a message. Click on the buddy's name to view the message. If a message window is open, the message window will blink in the task bar when a message is received.

You may also choose to have a message window pop out every time you receive a message. On the Control Panel of the Chikka Messenger, choose Options and click on Preferences. Check the box beside Popup chat window when a message is received.

Unread messages will be deleted from your account five days after they are sent.

Message Credits

Messages sent from PC to PC are unlimited and free.

However, a PC user is given limited credits for sending messages from the PC to mobile phones. The daily message credit allocation depends on the wireless provider of your recipients. Your daily message credit allocation applies to SMS and MMS collectively.

Available Daily Credits for each Country

Philippines

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
All Telcos	30	2

India

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
All India Telcos	10	1

United States

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
All Telcos	20	1

United Kingdom

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
All Telcos	30	1

Guam

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
Guamcell	Unlimited	1

Saipan

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
Saipancell	Unlimited	1

Spain

Credits per day	Credits earned from each reply
All Telcos	30	1

Credits not used during the day are not carried over to the next day. You may also check how many message credits you have left. Click on the Control Panel button on your Chikka Messenger client and select Options. Click on Show Available Credit.

If you have run out of message credit, you can wait for a mobile user to reply to your message so that you'll regain a credit. Otherwise, you can wait 24 hours from the first time your account was active for the day to receive your daily message credits.

Forwarding Messages

If you have a Unified Account, you may opt to forward your messages to your mobile phone when you are offline. To activate this option, click on Options on the Control Panel of your Chikka Messenger client and choose Personal Profile. Click on User Setting and tick the box corresponding to Forward All My Messages to My Mobile Phone When My PC is Off.

PC-Only Users may opt to have messages forwarded to a verified email address. From the Chikka Messenger client, click on the Options button, then click on Profile. Click on Update My Personal Profile. Tick the box corresponding to Forward All My Messages to My Email Account.

Archiving Messages

The Chikka Messenger allows you to archive your messages. To activate your Message Archive, go to the Control Panel of the Chikka Messenger client, click on Options and select Personal Profile. Choose User Setting and check Save Last 20 Inbox/Outbox Messages. Then click on the Update button when done. Your last 20 Chikka messages will now stored in your archive.

Deleting Messages

Messages are automatically deleted once new incoming and outgoing messages are received and sent. Your messages are also deleted from your Inbox and Outbox every time you log out from the Chikka Messenger client. Currently, there is no way for you to manually delete messages.

Account Information

Unified account holders can use their existing Chikka ID for every client version of the Chikka Messenger. However, if you've registered for a PC-Only Account before and wish to have a Unified mobile-to-PC Account, you will have to register for a new account.

If you want to create a new account, you will have to re-create your buddy list. However, your old buddy list is preserved on your old account. You also may not access the buddy list of another account.

Password Information

To log in to a Chikka account, you must also input a password. If you can't remember your password, you can retrieve it using your PC or using your mobile phone.

Using your PC:

Launch the Chikka Messenger client on your PC. On the Log-in window, select Forgot Password and click OK. Follow the steps indicated.

Email Information

When you register your email address, you will be sent an email asking you to verify your email address. Click on the link found in the email. This will lead you to a web page confirming that your email address has been verified. You may also change the email address used for your account. To do this, launch the Chikka Messenger client on your PC. Click on the Control Panel and select Profile, and then edit your email address in the appropriate field. An email message will be sent to your new email address with a verification link. Click on the verification link in the email message to confirm your email address change. (If you do not click the verification link, your email address will not be changed.)

Status and Availability

Your buddy list is divided into two: Online and Idle. Online friends are online at their computer, their mobile phone, or both.

To change your status, click on the arrow beside Available at the bottom of the client. Scroll down to choose the status you want displayed to everyone. To appear invisible, choose Appear Idle.

Billing and Costs

Registering

Registering for your Chikka account from your PC is absolutely free!

Sending Messages

Sending messages from your PC using the Chikka Messenger is totally free of charge, whether you send it to a PC or a mobile phone.

Receiving Messages

All PC to PC messages are free of charge.

You may be charged for receiving messages on your mobile phone depending on your carrier. Please check CHIKKA ON MOBILE PHONES for details.

Privacy and Security

Blocking and Unblocking

You may choose to block messages from certain people. This means you will not receive any messages from them. To do this, go to your buddy list on the Chikka Messenger and right-click on the name of the person whose messages you want to block. Select the option BLOCK BUDDY.

You may also choose to Unblock someone you have previously blocked. From the buddy list in your Chikka Messenger, right-click on the name of the person whose messages you want to block. Select the option UNBLOCK BUDDY.

Search

To remain unlisted so persons cannot search for you, click on the Control Panel button found on top of the Chikka Messenger, then select Profile. Click on Update Personal Profile and select I want to remain unlisted.

Troubleshooting

Unable to connect to the Chikka Messenger

1. Your Chikka Messenger connection information may be incorrect. Please follow these steps to configure your connection.
• Look for the Chikka "phone and mouse" icon in your system tray, right-click the icon, and select Connection Options.
• Check if the Auto Configure Connection is clicked, If not, click the option.
• Log in using your Chikka ID and Password.
If you still can't connect and you are behind a proxy server, click here for your proxy settings.
2. If you have selected the Auto Configure Connection but still can't connect, look for the Chikka "phone-and-mouse" icon in your system tray. Right-click the icon, and select Connection Options. To edit your settings manually:
• Look for the Chikka "phone and mouse" icon in your system tray, right click the icon and select Connection Options
• Unclick Auto Configure Connection and click Use Proxy Server.
• Enter Proxy IP and Host.
• Select Protocol (whether SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, or HTTPS).
• Enter Username and Password for Proxy Authentication if needed.
• Click Update and login using your Chikka ID and PASSWORD.
If you do not know how to get your proxy servings, click here.
3. If you still can't connect after editing your settings manually, look
• Look for the Chikka "phone and mouse" icon in your system tray, right click the icon and select Preferences
• Select USE HTTP ALWAYS
• Click OK
• Log in using your Chikka ID and Password
If you are still unable to connect after following all the instructions above, ask your network administrator or write us at mailus@chikka.com, and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

MY OS is not compatible

You can still use the Chikka Messenger by opting for the Chikka Javalite. Click here to launch Chikka Javalite now.

To get started on Chikka quickly, check out the Beginner's Guide.

You can also learn how to use Chikka on mobile phones.

If you have any questions unanswered by our Online Help, Contact us.