Yahoo! Begins Messenger 5.6 Beta Testing

Jeff Hester

April 29, 2003

Beta testing has begun for Yahoo! Messenger 5.6. This version adds mobile instant messaging features for Cingular and AT&T Wireless customers, with more mobile carriers to be added. Subscribers to these wireless networks will be able to send and receive text messages on their cell phones via their Yahoo! Messenger account. They can receive IMs from other wireless Yahoo! users in addition to those logged into their computers.

The new mobile features, labeled Go Mobile, is a little different from their previous wireless services. In particular, with Yahoo! Messenger 5.6, you can login to Yahoo! Messenger on your mobile via your PC. You can also configure Yahoo! Messenger to automatically log you in on your mobile device whenever you log out on your PC.

Go Mobile requires a mobile phone with either Cingular or AT&T Wireless service, and a text messaging-capable phone. Be careful before setting up this service, because as the Go Mobile terms of service states, "...the cost of a normal text message will be charged to your phone by your mobile phone operator for each text message sent from your mobile phone number."

Other than the Go Mobile service, Yahoo hasn’t announced any new or additional features in 5.6. There have been reports that Y!Tunnel is not fully compatibile with this beta version, and there may be similar incompatibilities with other third-party Messenger add-ons.

If you’re the type who likes to live on the cutting edge, or if you’re a Cingular or AT&T wireless subscriber dying to get Yahoo messages on your mobile phone, you can download the 5.6 beta here and let us know how you like it.

Related Links

Download Yahoo! Messenger 5.6 Beta

Yahoo! Messenger 5.6 Beta Breaks Y!Tunnel

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