SR's 12Planet policy:  Each office is expected to have one forecaster logged into the chat software at all times.

• Background - Chat software is a critical tool in producing a well-collaborated forecast database. In combination with the Intersite Coordination capabilities in IFPS, chat software enables efficient discussion of forecast data and exchange of ideas with other NWS offices. During the forecast process, forecasters should discuss details of the digital forecast using chat and ISC tools to reach agreement. 
• Chat early, chat often in the forecast process. Don't come to a conclusion regarding the forecast and then try to coordinate. Express your forecast reasoning while formulating your decisions. 
• It is good practice to send a chat message identifying when preliminary ISC grids have been sent. 
• It is good practice to send preliminary ISC grids early in the forecast process. Waiting to send ISC grids until all grids have been modified makes the collaboration process very difficult. 
• When chatting with a particular office or offices, it may be helpful to prepare messages with the addressee's office name(s). 
• Don't forget to involve the national centers when their expertise may be helpful. 
• Collaboration time period with HPC regarding Days 4-7 will be from 1200Z to 1630Z. 
• Collaboration time period with SPC regarding day 1 convective outlook will be from 0700Z to 1100Z. See the SPC collaboration plan 
• Additional chat information can be found from the CRH chat information page.

12Planet Company-provided Documentation

"Using 12Planet" Documentation (same as via 12Planet Help on AWIPS)

Chatting as a means of collaboration works well. The bottom line is that it gives you a way to deal quickly with significant problems that appear in ISC. It is quite common for discrepancies to appear in the forecast fields, but usually they are not something that each forecaster holds strongly to. In other words, once both parties know a large difference exists, they are willing to compromise and work it out. But how will both forecasters come to know the problem exists? Well, the best (easiest and fastest) way is to type a one-liner like, "Hey office XXX, we have a large difference with Saturday's mins...can you come down a little if I come up?" Without the chat, it would take a potentially lengthy phone call (let's face it, we all talk more than we type :-) to fix up these differences. But with the chat, it can be done in less than one minute (your typing time plus the time it takes to read the other person's answer...you can still be working on other fields while you wait for the answer, so that time is not lost or wasted). 

Another major advantage is that you can give a quick "heads-up" to your surrounding offices of what you plan to do so they don't have to wait until the last minute to get your ISC grids, and get an unpleasant surprise. As they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", and a quick few minutes spent in chat BEFORE you complete all your grids can often save you 30 minutes later on when you realize you are the odd person out and your forecast needs substantial editing. 

Finally, as with all of IFPS, you will get faster with practice, and though chatting may seem like an unwise use (or even a waste) of time now, it will become a valuable tool once you give it a chance to work for you.