Just a headsup: The chat bubble chat has now moved to the lower UI (to the pane called "Area Chat"). Entering text there will make it both display as a normal speech bubble, and display in the Area Chat pane of all others who could see the speech bubble. You can enter longer text now, but for long messages, only part of it will show up in the speech bubble (the rest will still show in the chat pane).
Also, if you're using the latest client, unread chat message will highlight their corresponding "tab buttons", and if the UI is folded down, the "fold up arrow" will be glowing in an appropriate color.