Establish your identity in Windows Messenger
After you've signed up for a Microsoft Passport Network account and started Windows Messenger for the first time, Windows Messenger uses your Passport Network e-mail address as your sign-in name. Your sign-in name is the name your contacts see in their Windows Messenger contact lists.
To increase the sense of personal identity in your exchanges, you can personalize your display name.
1. | Click Tools in the Windows Messenger window. |
2. | Click Options. The Options dialog box appears, displaying the Personal tab.
 |
3. | In the Display Name box, type the name you want to use. |
4. | Click OK to save the name. |
Your changes appear immediately to other people who have added you to their contact list.
What's in a name?
Be sure to pick a name that's relevant to all of your contacts. Your first name might be just fine if you use Windows Messenger to stay in touch with close friends and family. You might want to add your last name (or another identifying detail, such as your company name) if you have work-related contacts and your first name is a common one.
Simple guidelines for choosing a name include the following:
| • | You can use uppercase and lowercase letters. |
| • | Spaces and punctuation symbols are okay. |
| • | Although you can create a name of more than 40 characters if you choose, it's best to use a shorter name that fits in other peoples' contact lists. |
