# Using Chat

You can chat with anyone on your Contacts list who displays . You can also chat with multiple Contacts at the same time. Each conversation takes place in a separate chat window.

Polycom CMA Desktop lets you easily use both chat and video with the same Contact. While you are in a video call, you can open a chat window and exchange messages. You may want to do this if you are troubleshooting an audio problem, for example. You can open or close the chat window at any time without affecting the video call. You can also add video or audio while you are chatting, depending on the capabilities of the far-end system.

To send a message:

1. Select a Contact, and then click to chat.
2. In the chat window, type your message, and then click Send.

To open the chat window during a video call:

1. If you're viewing full-screen video, click on the toolbar to reduce the window size.
2. Click on the toolbar.

To close the chat window:

>> Click the red close button.

Tips

- You can run Polycom CMA Desktop while you are running other chat applications on your computer.
- You can install another video conferencing application on a computer where Polycom CMA Desktop is installed. However, you cannot run Polycom CMA Desktop at the same time as other video conferencing applications.

Related Topics

Adding a Call to a Chat Session

Customizing Chat and Call Windows