another yahoo question for an 11 year old

[Ziggy81365]

ok. see if you can follow this.

"Bob" has an msn email account which is his primary email account.
Bob has a yahoo ID with the same username, which he doesn't use often.
As far as I know, Bob has never downloaded yahoo messenger, or he has it on his computer but doesn't sign in to it.

Over a month ago, I sent Bob a request on yahoo messenger to be on my contact list. I have not seen a response, and his yahoo "smiley face" has never lit up to indicate he is online. That is, until today. When I checked his yahoo profile, it indicated he was not online, although the yahoo messenger said he was.

My questions are:

1. Does he have to be signed in to yahoo messenger for his smiley face to indicate he is online?

2. Does he have to accept my request in order for the smiley face to light up when he is online?

3. Or does it just show when he is online, no matter whether he is signed on to yahoo messenger or not?

[smurfy]

1. Does he have to be signed in to yahoo messenger for his smiley face to indicate he is online?
Yes, either through Messenger or a third party app (Trillian, GAIM, etc) or the web version.
2. Does he have to accept my request in order for the smiley face to light up when he is online?
Yes
3. Or does it just show when he is online, no matter whether he is signed on to yahoo messenger or not?
No - he must be signed in. Although I believe Yahoo gives you the option of hiding your online presence on the web-page (so you'll only see him on the Messenger)

[Ziggy81365]

Cool. Thank you so much!