Main use for private messaging is to leave a message for someone who is not online. There is no userlist of all users in the chat module to do this which renders that bit pretty redundant.

There is a way to go in the menu and select Private messaging which then opens the messaging up in a full screen. Yes, you can choose from a complete userlist of all registered on the website then and not just those online so this part of the app can get this information. Problem with sending messages this way (apart from it making you have to leave your current page) is that you lose access to the other great features in the app i.e. the translate option