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• Choosing a Gamertag
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Definitely the feature that sets Xbox Live apart right away. You may have played online before, but unless you've communicated in real time with teammates and opponents, you haven't lived. Here's how.

Hook to send a voice message:

1.From the Xbox Live Dashboard, go to your Friends List.
2.Select Add Friend.
3.Type in the Gamertag you want to add to your Friends List.
4.Select Done.
5.When you’re asked, “Do you want to send a voice message with this Friend Request?” select Yes.
6.Select the record button (it has a round symbol and works just like the one on your VCR) and speak into the microphone of your Xbox Communicator. You have up to 15 seconds for your message.
7.When you’re finished recording, select the square stop button and then select Send.

How to listen to a voice message:

1.From the Xbox Live Dashboard, go to your Friends List.
2.Select a Friend Request.
3.Select Listen to Voice Message.
4.Select the arrow play button to listen to your message.

FAQ

Q: What is voice messaging?
A: Read all about it here.

Q: How do I get voice messaging?
A: When you sign into Xbox Live after April 21, 2004, your Xbox Dashboard will be automatically updated to include voice messaging capabilities.

Q: How do I record a voice message?
A: See above.

Q: How do I listen to a voice message?
A: See above.

Q: Can I send a voice message with a Game Invite?
A: No. But we’re working with game developers to implement this feature in the next several months. We’ll let you know when it happens.

Q: Can I send a voice message when I decline a Friend Request?
A: No.

Q: Can I listen to my voice messages again?
A: You can listen as many times as you want before you leave the Voice Messaging screen. After that, you won’t be able to access old voice messages.

Q: Can I store voice messages?
A: No.

Q: Can I preview a voice message before I send it?
A: Sure. Use the record, stop, and play buttons to get your voice message just the way you want it. When you’re satisfied with your message, select Send.

Q: What should I do if someone sends me rude or inappropriate voice messages?
A: Send feedback! When you select an incoming voice message, you’ll see an option for feedback.