# Communicating with other users {% embed url="" %} ## Overview Every professional [network](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/networking-with-other-users) starts with a single conversation—and Breakroom offers multiple ways to connect. Here you'll learn how to participate in public text chat, send direct text messages, access voice chat, and send in-world emails with attachments. {% hint style="warning" %} World Owners can [enable or disable access](https://docs.breakroom.tech/creating-custom-experiences/ui-customization-options) to text chat and in-world email. If these features are disabled, users will only be able to communicate using voice chat. {% endhint %} ## **Voice chat** Voice chat is available on a zone-by-zone basis. If you're in an area that permits voice chat, you will see a button that says **Microphone Off** at the top of your screen. Click on it, and its appearance will change to indicate that your microphone is now active. You can learn more about voice chat by reviewing our [conference system quick-start guide](https://docs.breakroom.tech/getting-started/using-the-conference-system). ## **Text chat** To access text chat, click the **Show Chat button** located in the [bottom toolbar](https://docs.breakroom.tech/ui-tour#the-bottom-toolbar). This will launch the Chat window. If there are multiple text chat channels available to you, you will see these listed as tabs across the top of the window. Once you've selected the channel you want to use, click on the **text field** at the bottom of the window and type out your message. You can then hit the **Enter key** on your keyboard or click the **Send button** to submit it. ## **Direct message** To send a direct text message to another user, click on their **avatar** and select **Instant Message** in the action menu that appears. A new tab will open in the Chat window labeled with that user's name. After typing out your message in the **text field**, you can hit the **Enter key** on your keyboard or click the **Send button** to submit it. If you've added other users to your [People list](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/networking-with-other-users/people), you can direct message them at any time by clicking the **People button** and then clicking on their **name**. Select **Chat** in the action menu that appears, and a direct chat tab will open as described above. You can also [**search**](https://docs.breakroom.tech/ui-tour#the-search-toolbar) for a user, open their [user profile](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/networking-with-other-users), and click the **Chat button** in their profile to start a direct text conversation. ## In-world email Breakroom's in-world email service allows you to send longform messages to multiple recipients. You can also distribute virtual objects, such as [bookmarks](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/bookmarks-and-teleport-invites) and [camera settings](https://docs.breakroom.tech/controlling-your-camera#camera-settings), by attaching them to in-world emails. ### Receiving email
A closeup of the top toolbar. The envelope icon on the far right has a pink "alert" tag attached to it, indicating that there is one unread message.

Pictured: The top toolbar. The Mail and Notification buttons have been highlighted alert the user to an unread message.

If you receive an email from another user, the Mail and Notification buttons in the [top toolbar](https://docs.breakroom.tech/ui-tour#the-top-toolbar) will be highlighted to alert you. To open the Mail window, you can either: * Click the pinned **Mail button** * Click the **Notification button**, and then click on the **mail title** * Click the **Menu button**, and then click the **Mail action**
A closeup of the Mail window, with a single unread email. The sender and first line of this email are displayed in the Email preview area.

Pictured: The Mail window with an unread message.

Here's a brief overview of the Mail window UI.
Button or UI componentFunction
New Mail buttonOpens the email composition window.
Manage buttonAllows you to select and delete multiple emails.
Email previewOpens the selected email.
Reply iconStarts a new email and auto-fills the recipient field.
Trash iconDeletes the relevant email.
To open an email, click on the **email preview** in the Mail window. Once you're done reading, you can click the **Delete button** to delete the email forever, or click the **Cancel button** to return to the main window. If an item is [attached](#attaching-items) to the email, you can receive it by clicking the **Accept It** or **Buy It button**. If you don't want the item, you can close or delete the email without taking further action. ### Sending email There are multiple ways to send email within Breakroom. #### Sending email to another user in the same Region To send email to a user who is currently in the same Region as you, click on their **avatar** and then click **Send Mail** in the action menu that appears. #### **Sending email to a contact in your People list** You can also send email by clicking on the **name** of a contact in your [People list](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/networking-with-other-users/people), and then clicking **Send Mail** in the action menu that appears. #### **Replying to a received email** To reply to an email someone else has sent you, click the [**Reply icon**](#receiving-email) in the Mail window. #### **Searching for an email recipient** If the user with whom you wish to communicate is located in another Region or is offline, you can use the [**search field**](https://docs.breakroom.tech/ui-tour#the-search-toolbar) to search for their name. If you like, you can filter the search results by checking the **User option** under **Refine Search**. Once you've found the right person, click on their **name** in the search results. The other user's [profile ](https://docs.breakroom.tech/exploring-breakroom/networking-with-other-users)will open on your screen. Click the **Mail button**, and an email composition window will open.
A closeup of the email composition window. A user is responding to an email in the field.

Pictured: The in-world email composition window.

No matter the contact method you use, the email composition window UI is the same.
Button or UI componentFunction
Back buttonTakes you to the main Mail window.
Recipient fieldLists the recipient(s) you wish to contact.
Select More buttonAllows you to select additional recipients.
Content fieldContains the contents of your email.
Open Inventory buttonAllows you to attach virtual items to your email.
Send buttonSends the email.
Cancel buttonCancels the email and deletes your draft.
### Attaching items You can also use in-world email to share virtual items with other users. To attach an item to your email, follow these steps. 1. Open the email composition window using your preferred method, as [detailed above](#sending-email). 2. Click the **Open Inventory button** in the email composition window. 3. An Inventory window will open. Click on **the item** you want to send. 4. If you like, you can set a sale price for the item using either [Silver or Gold currency](https://docs.breakroom.tech/customizing-your-avatar/using-the-sinewave-shop#breakroom-currencies). If you do this, there are two important things to keep in mind: 1. Breakroom will take 10% of the selling price as a fee for doing business on the platform. 2. If the other user declines to purchase the item, they will not receive it. 5. Once you're done composing your email, click the **Send button**. 6. If you *don't* want to sell the attachment, click the **OK button** to confirm your choice. To accept an attachment, click the **Accept It** or **Buy It button** after opening the email.