The Windows Live Messenger, previously available by invitation only (sort of), is open to the public starting at 9 pm PST tonight (Monday). It is available for Windows PCs only, must be downloaded with IE (no Firefox), and is available at ideas.live.com.
Karin Muskopf, the product manager for MSN and Windows Live Messenger, gave me a brief overview of the new features earlier today. Live Messenger has a cleaner interface than MSN Messenger 7.5, the current non-beta release. Other improvements include integration with MSN video in the bottom of the window, and expansion of the VOIP pre-paid calling feature called Windows Live Call (powered by Verizon) into eight new markets (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands). You can also make some changes to the Live Messenger template, such as color customization. In addition, they are rolling out offline messaging so, like Yahoo and Skype IM, you can send a message to someone offline and they will receive it when they log in.
The feature that I like best about Live Messenger, though is the file sharing via integration with the previously acquired Foldershare product. Drag any kind of file into a contact name in the Live Messenger, and a folder will be created on each of your desktops with a copy of the file. Any changes to the file will be replicated in both folders. I use Skype for file transfers often, and the Live Messenger integration is quite a bit simpler and easier to use.
No word from the Live team as to when they’ll be rolling out APIs for the product, or even integrating it into their own Live.com, as Gtalk is integrated into the Gmail site. But anyone can now try Live Messenger, and new features are, I’m sure, on the way.
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It’s nice to see that the interface is cleaner…but when will they learn that what I want is less features, not more?
I thought the beta became public a few weeks ago? (My friends and I were able to get it from their site without invites).
I agree with John S. I don’t use any of the fancy features any more, just text chatting. I wish they released a basic client like Mozilla did with Firefox.
Finally, Microsoft is dipping its finger deeper into the Instant Messaging business. I guess it already got tired of playing tag with the Yahoo Messenger, with MSN being always the “it.” No shame in replicating the offline messaging feature of YM. It one-upped Yahoo, though, on its file-sharing function. Yahoo opens a lot of windows in order to facilitate a file transfer, and still requires you type or click on the filename. I’m glad that file sharing in Windows Live Messenger is as simple as dragging it to the names list.
I use Trillian– I like the multi-service dimension but even more because MSN’s interface is so bulky, because it’s got too many features, and because it doesn’t have tabbed messenger. I’m looking forward to improvements they make because IMO it’s the best standalone IM product.
It’s not public at the moment per se, you still need to sign up but it may not be beta still. It’s been like this for months. I think Live Messenger will succeed because I think their main target is pre-teens and teenagers.
I tried to download via Firefox, but the Download button on the Windows Live Ideas success page is not clickable. Does anyone experience the same problem?
Ben,
Sorry, I forgot to mention that (amended the post). You have to download the application in IE.
Offline messaging should have been implemented a LONG time ago. ICQ, first developed 10 years ago, already had this standard feature.
I figured that was the case. I guess there’s still a need for IE after all.
Only with IE ?
One download less…
I’ve had this beta for a few days now…
are their folder sharing features really from the foldershare acquisition? i was under the impression that they were working on the sharing features much before foldershare was acquired
for everyone..expept macs, and linux, and anyone using a good browser
for freedom
welcome to http://zyzg.org
for freedom
It doesn’t even work with Windows 2000…
another great new feature is the “invisible” status that let you talk just with the people you want to and be offline to the rest.
and its true, icq had all this “new” stuff 10 years ago…
Still wondering if MS will include Y! Messenger integration in the final release (as announced by MS and Y! in Q4 2005). Has anybody got some news on this ?
I am already using Windows Live Messenger for a long period of time. This latest release is by far the most stable and best release among the Messenger 8 Beta.
Although once I liked ICQ much better, now seems that AOL after buying this israeli based startup have decided in the last few years to kill it slowly.
One thing I hate about the Live microsoft products is the excessive advertising. If you decide to use the Mess Patch which removes the ads and gives some more improvements.
Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0689
http://9down.com/story.php?sid=6549
What you need is the “IE Tab” extension for FireFox. It makes FireFox pretend to be Internet Explorer by using its engine, tricks all the Microsoft sites.
But on a political note, isn’t Microsoft braking that ruling about allowing people to use what ever program they wish for web-browsing by not letting people use there services with anything but IE?
They should stick Bill Gates in jail instead of threatening with fines.
I’ve also been a long time user of the Windows Live Messenger (or just msn 8.0 as it was called in the beginning).
Another new feature that wasn’t mentioned but that I really like is the way that it doesn’t display your name with every message when you send multiple messages. Hope you understand what I mean, Google Talk does the same thing.
i wonder if ms could be sued for forcing you to use ie to access stuff. thats incredible. really
The site (9down.com) is indeed a crack/warez/0day website, so please check that it’s completely legal to download anything from there (and patching Microsoft’s stuff should render violation of the EULA anyway.)
A very simple user interface innovation that Microsoft does not seem to get is Tabs. I loved the tabbed feature in Gaim. Any idea/opinin why they do not adopt a similar feature?
Andrew — I agree. I wonder why there seems to be this discrepancy in Microsoft’s approach to Firefox. For some sites Firefox is supported off the bat, while some others (like this example), they seem to deliberately rejecting it. I wonder if it is a business decision or a technical one. In any case, they need to have some form of consensus and guideline within MS
Looks the same as MSN?
You can use this link to download the app straight from the site without having to agree to any terms and conditions or sign in to MSN Live
—IT also works in Firefox!!—
http://g.msn.com/1csbeta/Mess80_EN
I’ve downloaded it, and didn’t need to use IE. I used my primary browser which is SeaMonkey.
(SeaMonkey is a community based continuation of the Mozilla App-Suite.)
Meanwhile, here’s a link to download Messenger Beta with any browser:
http://download.microsoft.com/.....r_Beta.exe
Blocks Firefox. Violates web standards. Probably illegal in the UK (disability discrimination act, screenreaders etc.). Truly classic Micro$uck website.
Just what we needed, more wasted screen space, more ads and more annoying stuff to get your focus out of the people you want to talk to, and into buying stuff.
someone teach Microsoft how to design a user interface
Slight improvement, by adding features such as grouping consecutive comments from same user.
But it’s still too cluttered IMO. I *can’t believe* I can’t disable MSN winks! Surely anyone over the age of nine wouldn’t want to use them…
The installation took quite a long time as well and the PC needed a restart (as ever). Why make a chat programme complex? The core function (instant chat) has been around since Unix!
And 256 MB recommended? That’s just crazy.
Live Msgr opened as public from March, 14th.
Look at here and here.
Now if only all the people I want to talk to used MSN for IM purposes … thanks for the scoop, as always!
I havent tried it yet, downloading right now.
And guess what ? Not using IE, and not through any special link either. Just followed all the steps on the page.
How ?
Because I’m using Opera.
Firefox isn’t the best browser out there, you know.
WHERES THE FUCKING DOWNLOAD BUTTON!?
I think microsoft is running out of Ideas, all their new products and software are like really vague, for example this new messenger has ads, a really weird and stupid interface, it seems too full of it, people want simple things instead of adding all those little buttons they should hide them and if you wanted to use some of them activate them by the right click but Its really weird using msn messenger because of all the little icons I like simple and good looking programs.
This is a great messenger with great features and interaction that trillian cant begin to scratch the surface with.
Play around with it.
You can just get Mess Patch from its official home http://www.mess.be, no need to get it from 9down.
What!!
still no bloody tabbed message windows?
jesus.
well, ICQ many years ago does something similar to foldershare where you assign directories to share and your frnds can access to these files..
I could download it with Firefox, too. No Problem.
I don’t like the layout. Trillian is much better.
Nothing for Mac? I will stay away…Skype works for me just fine..
hey how do you get the new msn messenger..?
But, what I dont like is that (or at least i havent figured it out yet) that i cant just TALK to people using a microphone. This LIVE call, if I talk to people from other countries would cost me a fortune!
I just downloaded MSN with Firefox without any problems. Did they change downloading rules recently ?
I’ve been having troubles turning on the feature to group multiple messages so it doesn’t display the name with each message
“Windows Live Messenger onwards gives the ability to turn off pre-pending contact names if same person writes multiple messages. If the same contact writes more than one message, the contact name will be displayed for only the first message”
It was working the very first time I installed it, now does not work. I’ve tried reinstalling and everything…
i’ve had the same problem of Colin
does someone have an idea on how to fix this fucking problem??
shit, it worked, why souldn’t it work anymore?!?!?!
if someone’s got an idea let us know
thanks
je voudrais windows live messenger en francais
I have the same problem as Colin as well. Someone please explain.