= How to register test accounts =

The purpose of this page is to provide quick, concise instructions on how to register accounts for testing purposes in several of the supported chat networks.

Testing means testing - '''don't include any dishonest stuff here''', please.

Contributions welcome! Also feel free to add other libpurple protocols or jabber service variants.

General tips:

 * If you own a domain, get a catch-all email address.
 * Email verification links sometimes get broken - use "show original" and get it from the plaintext version.
 * If birth dates are required, set them to the oldest date possible (younger than 13 will often get you blocked)

== MSN / Skype with microsoft account ==

[[https://signup.live.com/|Direct registration link]] (from outlook.com)

 * Easy
 * Email verification required when using existing address
 * Optional fields: postal code when non-US, phone number
 * 'Alternate email address' field recommended. Can be skipped but you might get locked out for "security".
 * Set country to non-US to avoid entering zip code.
 * Captcha (custom, voice)

After registration you get sent to https://account.live.com/summarypage.aspx - Ignore that and http://outlook.com/ to see inbox / use chat after registration.

== Skype with username ==

[[https://login.skype.com/account/signup-form|Direct registration link]]

 * Very easy
 * No verification required, apparently
 * Required fields are properly marked with a star, unlike most other sites....
 * Most fields optional.
 * Captcha (recaptcha, voice)

== Yahoo ==

[[https://edit.yahoo.com/registration|Direct registration link]]

 * Easy
 * No verification required, apparently
 * Phone number "may" be verified, must be in a valid format.
 * Optional fields: "recovery number", "relationship"
 * Captcha (custom gif, voice)

== Google talk / "hangouts" ==

[[https://accounts.google.com/SignUp|Direct registration link]]

 * Ugly.
 * SMS / Phone call verification required. There's a limit of accounts per phone number.
 * Optional fields: current email address. 
 * Captcha (recaptcha, voice)

If you own a "google apps for your domain" organization, creating XMPP-enabled users from the admin panel is just a matter of setting username/password.

== Jabber (Pure XMPP) ==

TODO: https://xmpp.net/directory.php

In-band account registration is not supported by bitlbee. Other clients such as gajim or psi should be used for services that don't support web based registration.

If setting up a server (like prosody) in localhost is easy enough, including instructions here would be appreciated too.

== Hipchat ==

We've got a bitlbee organization! Poke dx @ #bitlbee (OFTC) to get added to it.

You can also create a new organization, [[https://www.hipchat.com/sign_up|sign up link here]].

== WhatsApp ==

You need a phone number and something that can receive SMS.

The rest of the 'registration' instructions are in the HowtoWhatsapp page.

== AIM ==

[[http://www.aim.com/|Click "sign up" here]]

I would write more instructions but I got "Registration has been blocked due to too many attempts from this IP address" after loading that page 3 or 4 times.

== ICQ ==

[[http://www.icq.com/join/en|Direct registration link]] (ignore the fact that it looks like a whatsapp clone)

TODO

== Facebook ==

TODO

== Twitter ==

TODO

The forced following of accounts can be skipped in a non-obvious way.

== Steam ==

TODO.

Owning at least one paid game might be required to be able to use community features such as chat. Redeeming steam keys (from humble bundles, promotional giveaways, etc) probably counts.

== Gadugadu ==

TODO

Help needed from polish people, but i think google translating the registration process is possible.

== QQ ==

TODO

Help needed from chinese people.

== SIPE / OCS / LCS / Lync ==

TODO

There's a "trial" server package available somewhere from microsoft.com

Alternatively: are there 'public' servers for this? Or anything that can be shared on request?

== SILC ==

TODO

== Other libpurple protocols / other services ==

Feel free to add!