Microsoft Releases New Version of MSN Messenger

Microsoft upped the ante in the instant messaging wars today with the official release of MSN Messenger 7 for Windows.

The updated instant messenger includes improvements to video chat, integrated search that lets you share the results with your chat partner, and features designed to let you express yourself in new ways.

MSN Messenger 7 has been available in a public beta for a while, but this release is significant because it shows that Microsoft believes it's stable and secure enough to officially replace version 6.

Here's an overview of the new features:

• Nudge your contacts. This is nearly identical to Yahoo! Messenger's annoying "Buzz" feature. Sending a nudge to a contact will make their chat window appear to shake and includes an audible cue to get their attention.
• Send a Wink. Winks are a series of animated cartoons that float above the recipients Windows desktop. They are a cute way to express feelings, and usually include sound as well as animation. Winks were first introduced in Microsoft's innovative 3degrees program.
• Control your sign-on status. Finally you can sign-on as "away," "busy," or even "appear offline." You can select any status as your initial sign-on status, giving you greater control over your online privacy.
• Blog integration. MSN Messenger 7 integrates with your blog--if you happen to use Microsoft's free MSN Spaces blog service. If someone in your contact list uses MSN Spaces, you'll see a small gold "gleam" appear next to their name, alerting you to the fact that they have a blog. You can access their blog directly through the contact list.
• Now Playing. If you use Windows Media Player 10 you can show your friends what song you're currently listening to in a personalized message that appears next to your name in their contact list.
• Dynamic Display Pictures are animated avatars that you can manipulate to express emotions. Many people were disappointed with the implementation of dynamic display pictures. Rather than simply allowing animated GIFs, these are similar to Yahoo! Messenger's Flash-based Avatars. You cannot create your own, and you currently have to purchase them through Blue Mountain.

You can download MSN Messenger 7 now from the official MSN Messenger website or get a version in your own language:

• Arabic
• Chinese
• Czechoslavokian
• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• French
• Finnish
• German
• Greek
• Hebrew
• Hungarian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Norse
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Slovakian
• Spanish
• Swedish
• Taiwanese
• Turkish

For even more on MSN Messenger, visit our MSN Messenger Center and our MSN Messenger forum.