Ever since Facebook released its instant messaging application on its site in 2008, many of its users have been utilizing the chat function to keep in contact with their Facebook friends. It is a simple function, but nonetheless user-friendly. Comparing what it is now and what it was three years back, not many would say it has changed much; it’s still a small bar located on your bottom-right corner which expands to let you see who’s online when you click on it.

That doesn’t stop avid fans of facebook from discovering a couple of interesting tips and tricks to enhance your experience with its chat function. Below are some great tips and tricks you can use to customize the way you chat with Facebook.

Tips & Tricks

Open a bigger Facebook chatbox

Sick of chatting in that tiny little box in your facebook page? Well, this option enables you to pop out the chat so that you have a much comfortable view of your friends and your conversation. (via Tips4pc)

Setup Facebook Chat in iChat

If you’re using Mac OS and wants to chat without logging on to facebook everytime, this is a great tip for you. Simply follow a few instructions and you’ll chat in iChat in no time. (via Mac OS X Tips)

Setup Facebook chat on Desktop / Mobile Phones

In 2010, Facebook added a new interface to its chat service which provides the Jabber/XMPP protocol. Since then, Facebook chat is accessible from any Jabber-supporting instant messaging programs. What this means is that you can now use that chat function on your mobile phone and desktop. (via Ken’s Tech Tips)

Retrieve chat history in chatbox

This is pretty much a simple hack on Facebook which allows you to get chat history of a particular friend of yours even if he or she is offline. (via Puremango)

Keep Facebook Chat chatlog

If you are a fan of logging chat histories with your instant messengers, then you must be disappointed and frustrated to know facebook doesn’t allow any of that. But not to worry, because Mozilla Firefox has this add-on that helps you capture your chat efficiently. (via Online Tech Tips)

Instant Messengers Facebook Chat

Here’s a list of instant messengers that allows you to chat with your Facebook friends without opening the browser or keeping your Facebook page active.

Chit Chat

Sick of the lack of customization for your fonts in Facebook chat? Chit Chat is the way to go with its text formatting options, chat logging and status alerts, just like any other instant messenger on the market.

Digsby

This chat client attempts to integrate instant messaging, e-mailing and social networking chats into one program so that you don’t have to have separate programs or browsers for each one of them. Great for those with too many accounts to manage,

Meebo

Meebo provides a single log-in to all your chat networks, but it’s not a desktop program like Digsby. It is actually a browser-based application that requires no set-up. Since you can log in on any computers with a internet connection without having to install anything, this is quite a convenient tool for not just Facebook chat, but also your other ones.

Adium

An aesthetically attractive instant messaging client for the Mac OS. Other than Facebook chat, Adium supports MSN, Yahoo, AIM, MSN, Google Chat and Windows Live as well.

Pidgin

For those who know Gaim, Pidgin is the instant messaging client’s new name. As with other chat clients, it lets users access multiple chat clients at one convenient place. Pidgin also provides a range of wonderful features such as customizing sounds when a contact signs in or off.

Emoticons & Text Symbols

Emoticons

Even if the person you’re talking to can neither hear your tone nor see your facial expressions, you can always make it up by putting some emoticons along with your words. Here is the full list of facebook emoticons to spice up your chat.

	smile	:)
	sad	:(
	stick tongue	:P
	big smile	:D
	shocked	:O
	wink	;)
	geek	8)
	cool	8|
	angry	>:(
	think	:\
	cry	:’(
	devil	3:)
	angel	O:)
	kiss	:-*
	heart	<3
	happy	^_^
	dream	-_-
	confused	O.o
	mad	>:o
	pacman	:v
	curly lips	:3
	robot	:|]
	chris putnam	:putnam:
	penguin	<(“)
	shark	(^^^)
	42	:42:

Text Symbols

Similarly, you may choose from a large variety of text symbols not just for your chat, but also for your facebook status updates and private messages.

☀	☼	✞	✝	✡	☮	♂	♀	✉	☸
☻	☺	☭	☎	☏	☢	☣	✖	☤	✌
♨	☂	☃	☁	✠	©	®	™	☢	☠
{｡^◕‿◕^｡}	(◕^^◕)	¿	¡	㊣	♖	㊛	♈	♉	♊
☬	☪	☯	☫	➹	✪	✈	♋	♌	♍
☟	♬	❀	✿	➽	⌚	⌛	♎	♏	♐
✖	✗	✘	✔	✓	✎	☾	♑	♒	♓
♔	♕	♖	♗	♘	♙	☝	ت	ツ	⌘
♚	♛	♜	♝	♞	♟	♁	卐	Ω	❖
♦	♠	♣	♥	♢	♤	♡	♧	✦	✧

(More) Facebook Tips / Tricks

• 20 Facebook Tips/Tricks You Might Not Know (hongkiat.com)
• 10 Tips & Tricks For Your Business’s Facebook Fan Page (hongkiat.com)
• 10 Cool Facebook Status Tips and Tricks (mashable)
• 10 Solid Tips to Safeguard Your Facebook Privacy (makeuseof)
• Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources (smashing magazine)