MSN Messenger is Dead, All Hail Windows Live Messenger

[shifter]

Yes, you did not misread the title, MSN Messenger is no more! The next version of MSN Messenger will no longer be called MSN Messenger 8 but will go under the name Windows Live Messenger 8.

Now the first question that probably will rise to your mind is why?!?!:

To make a very long story short, Microsoft is re-branding its major sections. On one side you will have the MSN section, and the other hand you will have the Live section, consisting out of Office Live, Mail (previously hotmail) and Windows Live Messenger.

And your next question will probably be what ?!?:

Apart from the name change the butterfly will retire, and the new client is going to be even more integrated with Mail, Search, Media Player and Office. The user interface is also getting a make-over and is going to be much like the new mail look.

What’s New in Windows Live Messenger?

• Call your friends’ mobile or land-line telephones with Windows Live phone call, and make affordable domestic and international calls (voip returns!)
• Easily share documents of all kinds with Sharing Folders
• A new design !

Yes, stunningly that’s it for now but maybe they have a few more tricks up their sleeves. But this is how Microsoft describes the new features:

Voice calling? How will that work?
This feature will let users who sign up for Windows Live phone call (provided by a Microsoft partner) to easily call landline and mobile phones. You will be able to set up a Windows Live phone call account through the Messenger interface and start making calls within minutes. You will be able to purchase minutes upfront, then add minutes when your balance runs low. One of the great things about this will be the affordable domestic and international calls you will be able to make.
You will still be able to make PC-to-PC calls for free, with no need to sign up for Windows Live phone call account, so long as you and your Messenger contact both have compatible speakers and microphones (or headsets).

What are Sharing Folders?
Sharing Folders will be a new and simple way for you to share personal photos, documents, and files with your Messenger contacts. You will be able to create a Sharing Folder by simply dragging files onto a contact name in Messenger. This will create an exact copy of the files on both you and your contact's computers, and create a Sharing Folder that can be accessed from Messenger, and on the desktop.

I can already share documents using e-mail. So what's the big deal?
The Sharing Folder will be easier than e-mail for sharing photos and documents. In a Sharing Folder, any time a file in the folder is added, modified, or deleted, those changes will be synchronized with the person you’re sharing with. The Sharing File icon in Messenger will also show you a gleam on a contact so you will know when a Sharing File has been updated. And it’s a simple drag-and-drop to share files, even simpler than the “send file” and “save as” functions you are already familiar with in Messenger.

The Sharing Folders will work pretty much like the PC folder experience you already know, so it will make sense right away. Just like in Windows, you will be able to drag-and-drop, get different views of files, copy, paste, etc. You will be able to access a Sharing Folder from your desktop, to manage files whether online or offline. And a Sharing Folder requires virtually zero setup or configuration, and efficiently handles file synchronization without any fuss.

Read all about it at live.com

Source: MSN.. eeh Windows Live Team Blog & Mess.be

[Oreo]

Hmmm, should make integrating with Yahoo! a lot easier for them...hee hee

[MrEggsalad]

Yes it should. I have a review (with pics!!) of the current beta on my site. Here is a link to it: http://www.mreggsalad.net/displaycom...php?cid=&id=65

[Oreo]

Very interesting...and nice conversations as well. :P It looks different but does not look different at the same time (if that makes sense!?) :)

[MrEggsalad]

Heh, yeah pretty funny conversations. And yes, it does make sense. I think the same thing about it.

[Rusty]

where can i donwload this?

[shifter]

It's available right here -> Windows Live Messenger 8 Downloads

[Rusty]

thanks

[Oreo]

It's pretty neat...though the block feature leaves a lot to be desired...I would almost say it's "backwards???" I blocked my hubby to test the feature. He was still able to write me...so I unblocked him, then he saw me as offline...yet I could still write him, he could write me as long as the message window was open and it would log me out when I changed the block/unblock status...odd. I'm sure they'll fix it before it's released. Still, interesting.

[princeG]

Windows Live Messenger 8 Beta details:

Mike McCoy posted some information regarding the upcoming Messenger 8 beta on the Microsoft connect newsgroups: Has the beta started yet? No. Currently we are in a phase of MSFT internal testing. There are a handful of people outside MSFT, such as MVP's, who are also participating in this testing but their numbers are very small (less than 100). When will the beta start? I can't give out a firm date yet but it should be sometime next month. How do I sign up? If you were part of the 7.5 beta you will get invited to participate in the beta. Have you seen that it leaked? Yes we have. In fact we put it on download.microsoft.com. We did this because we realized after the 7.5 beta that even if we restrict the download, people still host the bits on their own download sites and it leaks anyway. Instead, we are attempting to control leaks through sign-in authorization. We also saw that the sign-in restriction has been hacked. However, the result is a version that is not fully functional. Plus, if you install and run these hacks you are exposing yourself to spyware and viruses for a version of Messenger 8 that is not even fully functional. My advice is to be patient and wait for your beta invite. Anything else new with this beta? Yes, we have two different types of betas: Managed and Closed. The Managed beta is like our traditional betas. Participants will go to Connect, file bugs and participate in restricted newsgroups. For Closed betas, participants will have the ability to download and use the software and participate in public forums. The Managed beta will be limited by what country you are in so even though you participated in the 7.5 Managed beta you may only be eligible for the Closed beta if you are not in a Managed beta country. Which countries are Managed and which are Closed? Unfortunately, I can't say at this time.