Point-and-Chat® Instant Messaging

Free Trial Download

 

Point-and-Chat is the name of two different electronic communications programs: an instant messaging (IM) program and an email (Mail) program. They are designed to run on Windows computers. The Point-and-Chat IM program will also send SMS text messages to many cell phones and receive text messages sent by them.

Currently, only the Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging program is available for a free trial download. The email program will become available in the future and will be priced separately.

Both Point-and-Chat programs are easy to learn for users of Alternative and Augmentative Communication devices, because Point-and-Chat works with input screens and devices familiar to AAC device users. For more general information on Point-and-Chat, including PowerPoint presentations with screen shots, go to www.simtalk.com/PnC.

Point-and-Chat IM software programs will take text input from a variety of sources including:

As other devices are found compatible with Point-and-Chat programs, they will be listed on this page.

You can try the Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging program for free for 30 days. Just follow the download instructions below. You can then continue using them after 30 days by purchasing an activation code.

 

Requirements:

Point-and-Chat requires a Windows XP computer (with Service Pack 2 installed) or a Windows Vista computer. Point-and-Chat will not run on a Mac.

The computer must have at least a 400 MHz processor with 128 MB RAM.

Point-and-Chat Instant Messaging

Storage requirements for Vista: On a Windows Vista computer, the computer needs a minimum of 81 MB of free space on the hard drive to install Pont-and-Chat IM. (The downloaded zip file is 40.1 MB and the extracted "unzipped" setup files are another 40.2 MB. After "unzipping" them, the original downloaded zip files can be deleted. Installation will add back about 20 MB, but the "unzipped" setup files can then be deleted.)

Storage requirements for XP: Point-and-Chat IM requires free helper programs from Microsoft that are built into Vista but not every XP. These programs will be installed by Point-and-Chat on a Windows XP computer if the Point-and-Chat installation does not find them already there. These helper programs include text-to-speech voices and may require as much as another 500 MB.

AIM screen name: Point-and-Chat IM can currently send Instant Messages to and receive Instant Messages from other people using Point-and-Chat IM as well as people using two other IM services, AOL (also called AIM) and ICQ. However, all users must obtain a free AIM screen name (also called a "buddy name"). For a free AIM screen name, go to www.aim.com.

 

This free Point-and-Chat download does not include a copy of DesktopChat. Point-and-Chat works automatically with any registered copy of DesktopChat that is already on the computer. Point-and-Chat does not need DesktopChat for Point-and-Chat to work with the other stand-alone devices listed above. If you need a trial copy of DesktopChat please go to the Saltillo e-shop.

 

Instructions and User Guides:

You can find operating and installation instructions for Point-and-Chat on this website. Just go to www.simtalk.com/PnC/UserGuide. There are also instructions for using Point-and-Chat with specific stand alone AAC devices, including a ChatBox 40 XT, a DynaVox Series 4 device, and a DynaVox Series 5 device. These device specific instructions, called "integration kits", can be found at www.simtalk.com/PnC/integration. We are continuing to develop integration kits for other AAC devices, and will post them when available.

After the 30-day trial is complete, you must purchase a license to use the software, or Point-and-Chat will stop working. Each license is valid for up to 3 computers. You can purchase a license and activation code any time at www.simtalk.com/PnC/activation. The Point-and-Chat software will also display a link to this activation website when it notifies you that the 30 day trial period is over. In addition, a link will be displayed in the Help menu of the Point-and-Chat software.

 

Download instructions:

Point-and-Chat IM

Download this file: PnCIM-trial-0103.zip (40.1 MB)

  1. Download the zip file to your Windows XP or Windows Vista computer.
  2. Then use Windows Explorer to find the downloaded zip file -- it is named "PnCIM-trial-0103.zip".
  3. Then right click on the file. From the pop-up menu, choose "Extract All" files.
  4. Optional: When you are done extracting, the original downloaded zipped files can be deleted.
  5. When you are done extracting, display the extracted ("unzipped") files and click on "setup.exe".
  6. Optional: After installation, the "unzipped" setup files can be deleted.

This process will install Point-and-Chat IM on your computer and put a shortcut onto your computer desktop. The shortcut icon is a smiley face talking.

Don't forget to sign up for an AIM screen name if you don't already have one.

 

Tech Support:

E-mail us about the free trial download