What the icons on chat means?

[Hirnasc]

After you chat with someone there is an icon beside its name. Can be a chat bubble, a hand, not sure if any other. Can be gray, light gray, green. What all this mean?

[Ollie]

The "dialog box" icon indicates that this is a private chat with a player, the "hand" is a private chat with a friend.

The color of the hand can be gray or green, depending on whether your friend is online or not.