who is invisible on gmail or gtalk

Step 1.

Set the target user as off the record while he/she is online. This can be done by simply clicking on the option in the chat window.


Step 2.

Try sending an IM when he/she is invisible or offline. If he/she is invisible he/she will receive message. If he/she is offline you will receive an error“did not receive your chat”. This hack will only work if you mark the target user as off record when he/she is online. It is a limitation.
How does it work? When the chat is off the record, it will no longer stored in the gmail account. When you send IM to an invisible / offline user it will be delivered by default. At the receiving end the IM will receive as a pop in form of chat window if the user is invisible. If the user is offline it will receive as an email in the inbox. The main problem with this hack is if the target user is using another email client or desktop version.