Is this really Free?

Surfing iFriends as a guest doesn't cost you a dime. Also 100% FREE are many members-only features such as browsing through uncensored archives taken from millions of past live iFriends videochats, cruising the iFriends search engines looking for "tall blondes" "under 25", and live textchat with more than 300,000+ iFriends video chathosts. You never pay for anything on iFriends without your consent. Check out the full Terms and Conditions for more information.

How can I reach your Customer Service Department?

Our toll-free customer service department is available 24/7, reachable through email, toll-free telephone (1-800-iFriends), or overseas direct dial (001-561-656-0600. Plus, check our our intelligent help-assistant page for instant online help, visit our Contact Page for department-by-department contact information, and don't miss our Member Services Page, your one-stop shop for all your customer-service needs on iFriends.

I forgot my password, how can I find it?

If you forgot your username and/or password, you can use our on-line username and password retrieval system by simply clicking here.

Is my account information safe with you? Who do you share it with?

Your account registration and billing information, which you submit to iFriends through a Verisign-certified, digital-certificate-encrypted secure channel and which iFriends maintains behind an impenetrable, firewall-protected encrypted secure system, is never disclosed or otherwise provided to any outside party, including iFriends' video chathosts. Your account information is accessible only to a handful of trained iFriends' staff, all of which have passed detailed background checks. For additional information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

On which browser does iFriends work best?

iFriends works with all browsers, and functions equally well with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, and America Online. Although not required, for the best experience, we recommend that your browser support java and javascript.

Do I need any plugins?

Watching iFriends does not require any plug-ins! No annoying downloads!

I'm using Microsoft Internet Explorer or AOL's Browser. Can I view the video chatrooms?

If you're using MSIE as your browser (even if AOL is the underlying online service), you'll automatically receive a Java-enabled display that provides for high-quality streaming video. If you have java turned off, or you are using an old version of MSIE, the java display may not work so well. In that case, try clicking on the "MSIE/AOL" button; you'll get a basic video window that refreshes every 30 seconds. If you are using a very old version of AOL's built-in browser, your display may update every 60 seconds, because AOL's older built-in browsers offer the least support for video streaming and java. (If that's the case, upgrade to MSIE or Netscape; they're both free downloads, and each will run over your AOL connection).

To avoid complications, make sure that you are using the latest version of your AOL browser, or even better, run Microsoft Internet Explorer. And for you AOL users, this can be run right over your AOL connection. Just buzz your friendly AOL tech support department, who can walk you through step-by-step setting up your computer to run this way.

When using Internet Explorer 5 for the Macintosh, I sometimes get a message that says MRJ 2.# is required. Why?

You are trying to access a portion of iFriends that requires Java, but you have not yet installed the latest Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ). You can find out more about MRJ and how to download it at http://www.apple.com/java.

Is this live?

Absolutely. Unless you are browsing through the "archives", or are watching the small portion of videochats that are clearly labeled as replays of previous Live iFriends videochats, every iFriends videochat you encounter is live. Real people. In real time. It's REAL!

Can I contact the iFriend who is providing his/her camera feed?

That's up to the performing iFriend. At their discretion, they may or may not choose to give you their email address, phone number, or other contact information.

Can I trace or locate the iFriend through their IP address?

No. The "IP address" of performing iFriends cannot be traced to the physical point of origin without a court order. Also, the IP address is often "randomly assigned" by their provider each time they transmit. Privacy laws vary from state to state, but in most cases, attempts to physically locate an iFriend through their IP addresses, however useless, nevertheless violate anti-stalking and anti-harassment statutes. Also, attempts to incapacitate or disable an video chathost's session constitute theft of services and are aggressively prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. (All attempts to do so are automatically logged and are easily traced to the point of origin)

What should I do if I'm not seeing any video?

First, use the chat interface and ask if anybody else is seeing video. If everyone else in the room *also* can't see video, then there may be something wrong on the video chathost's end. This seldom happens, because the video chathost usually signs out if nobody can see their video.

However, if you are the *only* one in the chatroom who can't see video, try the following: First, make sure that you've done everything you need to for the browser you're using. Make sure that your browser is supporting Java and Javascript. Try closing your browser and restarting it. Try rebooting your PC. Try switching browsers. If all that fails, try accessing iFriends from a different online service provider.

If you still cannot see video, then LEAVE THE ROOM to avoid unnecessary charges. Please let us know that there were problems by contacting our help desk at help@ifriends.net and giving us a detailed report of the incident.

How do I end my iFriends session?

There are two ways to end your iFriends session. The easiest and most effective way is to simply click on the "End Session" button immediately beneath the Video Chathost's video window. Alternatively, you may simply close your browser (best bet when you're having tech problems). Either of these approaches will terminate your session and prevent further billing for that session.

Where can I find out more information about Private Sessions?

Try the iFriends Guide to Private Sessions, or perhaps even better, the Private-Sessions FAQ.

I have a "WebPower/WPI/iFriends" charge on my credit card statement. Why is it there?

iFriends would never apply your registration payment information to any premium services without your consent. Premium services include fee-based videochats you might visit, where the chathost has chosen to charge for access to his or her videochat (other chathosts offer such services for free). Second, should you choose to join our "Club VIP", you will be billed $6.95 per month for access to the wide range of exclusive VIP benefits available to you (if you joined VIP earlier when the price was $4.99, you are "grandfathered" in at the lower rate ... for the life of your account!). Third, the "Elite" package, at $9.95, is another upgrade that thousands of members choose every week. Fourth, some chathosts offer an optional "Fan Club" feature ("FC" for short); FanClubs have both free and premium areas. All premium services on the site are clearly labeled in a prominent and conspicuous manner, and your consent is affirmatively obtained prior to your entrance to such areas. Of course, if you ever have questions about any iFriends charge activity appearing on your statement, call our toll-free 24/7 customer service center (1-800-iFriends; overseas callers dial 001-561-656-0600), where live agents are available day and night to cheerfully provide assistance and answer your questions.

Is there any way that the chathost can see me while I watch the chathost?

Although you do not need a webcam to spend time with an iFriends Video Chathost or to enter any iFriends video chatroom, the answer is YES -- there is a way for the chathost to see you while you are in that host's chatroom. Here's how it works:

• You must already be present in the chathost's fee-based live video chat room.
• You must be an iFriends ClubVIP-level member.
• You must check with the ChatHost and find out if they are interested, and, if they are, whether they've set up their session to use the new Flash-based Cam2Cam or the "old-style" iFCam-based option.
• Most will be using Flash, which is great news for you, because odds are you already have the Macromedia Flash plug-in you'll need installed. (For more information on the Flash-based option, be sure to see the special FAQ for this option.)
• If the ChatHost tells you you'll need to use the older iFCam-based option, you'll need to download, install, and run the iFriends ifCam Software. (Yes, this is the same software that chathosts use!). If everything is working right, you should be able to see your own webcam image in the ifCam application, at the same time that you are conversing with the chathost. (If you cannot see your own image in your ifCam window, please check your webcam documentation or contact your webcam hardware/software vendor.) With the iFCam option, for the chathost to be able to see your live webcam, you must not be behind a firewall or proxy server (if issues, check with your ISP). To see you, the chathost must click their "Other Options" link under their webcam window, and needs to know both your screenname and your "port number" ... the default is 8080. (We recommend not to change that setting unless advised to by your ISP).

Once the above conditions are met, that chathost may, if he or she desires, see your webcam image while you interact live in the fee-based video chatroom. The chathost is under no obligation to watch you, however, so remember to say "Please"!

Where can I learn more about TalkLive^TM, the new toll-free telephone conferencing system where I can talk live with my favorite chathost during live videochat?

A relatively new service, TalkLive is perhaps the fastest-growing feature ever offered on iFriends.
To find out more, click here.