The Windows Observer--Microsoft Launches Windows Live Messenger

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Volume 3, Number 21 -- June 21, 2006

Microsoft Launches Windows Live Messenger

Published: June 21, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft this week announced the release of Windows Live Messenger, the next version of the company's MSN Messenger instant messaging (IM) application, and one of the first of 20 or so Windows Live services the company expects to launch over the coming year.

Windows Live Messenger goes beyond MSN Messenger's roots in text-based IM, and delivers new capabilities in the areas of voice, video, and access to content, such as blogs.

Windows Live Messenger users will be able to talk to each other using voice over IP (VoiP) technology delivered through a partnership with Verizon. This service makes use of the Internet to place "affordable" outbound calls to "almost anywhere" in the world. Users must use cordless handsets designed exclusively for Windows Live Messenger from Uniden America or Philips; a headset from Motorola will be available later this year, Microsoft says.

Windows Live Messenger users will also be able to see who they're talking to when they use the new Video Call service, which leverages Logitech International's investment in video telephony.

Users interested in hooking up a Web cam to their Windows Live Messenger system may also buy the hardware from Microsoft, including the Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 and Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000, which Microsoft says will contain "several groundbreaking features," such as the Windows Live Call Button for one-touch video calling, the LifeCam Dashboard for "easy and natural" camera controls, and the One-Touch Blogging for posting pictures to Windows Live Spaces.

Windows Live Messenger will also feature a new "Sharing Folders" capability, which should make it easier for users to distribute files to their co-workers and buddies on their Contact List. This release also brings Windows Live Contacts, a way for Windows Live Messenger users to keep their friends and co-workers up-to-date with their latest contact information.

Windows Live Messenger is a key component of the company's Windows Live strategy, which it launched in November (see "Microsoft Aims to Streamline Web Experience with 'Live' Offerings"). The new service is designed to work with other Windows Live services, such as Windows Live Search, Windows Live Local, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Spaces (formerly MSN Spaces).

Windows Live Messenger is free. It's available for download now at get.live.com/messenger/overview.

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Editor: Alex Woodie

Contributing Editors: Dan Burger, Joe Hertvik,
Shannon O'Donnell, Timothy Prickett Morgan

Publisher and Advertising Director: Jenny Thomas

Advertising Sales Representative: Kim Reed

Contact the Editors: To contact anyone on the IT Jungle Team
Go to our contacts page and send us a message.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Windows Improves in Reliability, Yankee Finds

Microsoft Unveils LOBi to Unite 3rd Party Apps with Office

Bill Gates Bowing Out

Dell Pre-Announces Generation 9 of PowerEdge Servers

But Wait, There's More:

Vice President In Charge of Windows Live Leaves Microsoft . . . New Excel Vulnerabilities Targeted in Zero-Day Attacks . . . Microsoft Launches Windows Live Messenger . . . Windows Compute Cluster Server Demoed at Stockbroker Conference . . . Windows Patches Kill Operations Console on V5R3 and V5R4 . . . Middleware Sales Continue to Grow in 2005, IBM Still the King . . .

The Windows Observer

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