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Windows Live Messenger

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MSN Messenger
Developer(s)Microsoft
Stable release
7.5.0324 / February 8, 2006
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeInstant Messenger
LicenseFreeware
Websitemessenger.msn.com

MSN Messenger is Microsoft's instant messaging client for Windows computers aimed toward the home user. Among its users it is often referred to as "MSN," though in Latin America and Spain it is known as "el Messenger," as other instant messaging clients are less popular there. MSN Messenger is often used to refer to the .NET Messenger Service (the protocols and server that allow the system to operate) rather than any particular client. The business oriented client for Windows, which also uses Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service is called Windows Messenger. It is possible for virtually any browser-equipped computer with an Internet connection and Windows XP to connect to the Messenger Service by using MSN Web Messenger, or one of the unofficial equivalents (which have advantages such as compatibility with browsers other than IE, but do not have an interface that mimics the familiar one of the MSN Messenger application). MSN Messenger 7.5 is the last version of MSN Messenger that will be released. This is because Microsoft is planning a replacement called Windows Live Messenger.

When MSN Messenger was first released it featured support for access to America Online's AIM Network. America Online continually tried to block Microsoft from having access to their service until eventually the feature was removed, and has not re-surfaced in any later versions of the software. [1] Now the software only allows connections to the .NET Messenger Service, requiring a Microsoft Passport Network account to connect.

The major use of the software is for instant messaging, although other features which now come as standard include support for voice conversations, webcams (MSN Messenger 7.0 and later feature full screen audio video conversations), transferring files, and built-in two-player online games such as Tic Tac Toe. In a similar vein to many of MSN Messenger's competitors, MSN Messenger allows messages to be enlivened with graphical emoticons, sometimes called smileys, Flash animations called winks, animated display pictures, styled text, and many more with third-party add-ons such as MSNLiveDisplay.

Macintosh users have a combined home and corporate client dubbed Microsoft Messenger for Mac 5.0 rather than MSN Messenger for home use and Windows Messenger for corporate use. The Macintosh version has far fewer features than its Windows counterpart; Version 5.0, though released several months after MSN Messenger 7.0, does not offer voice conversations, webcams, online games, and several other features already introduced and popular with Windows users. Another minor upgrade for Mac was released in March 2006, but it still does not support audio, video, or other extended features, leaving Mac users crippled when compared to Version 7.x that is available for Windows users. Although two shareware messenger applications (Mercury and aMSN) support video and extended features on the messenger system, Microsoft continues to be unable or unwilling to offer these to Mac users via their Microsoft Messenger application. Mac users hoping for some of these features will instead have to settle for Mercury Messenger.

In August 2004, Microsoft introduced a browser-based version of the MSN Messenger client which can be used on any computer with a compatible browser and access to the Internet, without the need to install the Messenger software beforehand. This 'Web-messenger' is very limited, and can only be used to chat. It is also possible to use the Messenger Service on a mobile phone using Microsoft’s MSN Mobile service. Again, Microsoft has elected not to allow their browser-based client to run on the Mac platform.

There is a large community of third-party developers who have created add-ons to extend the capabilities of MSN Messenger.

Version Overview

MSN Messenger 1 (1.0.0863)

The first product release, released July 22, 1999. Claimed operability with AOL's AIM network. It included only basic features, such as plain text messaging and a simplistic contact list.

MSN Messenger 2 (2.0.0083)

File:MSNMessenger2.gif
MSN Messenger 2.0 Before signing in

Released November 16, 1999. Included a rotating advertising banner and the ability to slightly customize the appearance of the chat window. It came as an install option for Windows ME.

MSN Messenger 3 (3.0.0080)

Released May 29, 2000. Included file transfers, PC to PC and PC to phone audio capabilities with Net2Phone, one of the first VOIP providers.

MSN Messenger 4.6

Released October 23, 2001. Included major changes to the user interface, ability to group contacts and support for voice conversations.

MSN Messenger 4.6 was based on Windows Messenger 4.0 and ran only on Windows 9x, ME, NT and 2000. Windows Messenger was provided for Windows XP.

MSN Messenger 5

Released October 24th, 2002. Included UPnP based file transfers and minor changes to the user interface artwork. This was the first version that was allowed to run alongside Windows Messenger on Windows XP, also Windows Media Player interface plug-in.

MSN Messenger 6

Released July 17th, 2003. MSN Messenger 6 was a major overhaul of the whole platform, from a simple text-based communication, to a whole new system for expressing oneself with friends. This version emphasized the ability to customise the software, with personalised backgrounds, emoticons and display pictures and is much like what we see today in current versions.

MSN Messenger 6.1

Released October 23rd, 2003. This version focused on the conversation window, enabling users to hide the window frame and menu bar, and also the ability to change the theme colour of the window. The theme colour can be set differently for each user, also linking to their toasts (ie. contact signs in, contact says). The protocol version was also updated to MSNP version 10.

MSN Messenger 6.2

Released April 22nd, 2004. This was the last version of the MSN Messenger 6 series, most notable changes were contacts with mobile capabilities were more distinguishable (including a dedicated Mobile group), a connection trouble-shooter and the Launch Site feature was renamed to Fun & Games.

MSN Messenger 7.0

Released April 7th, 2005. Brought along the winks features, which was previously only available in threedegrees. This version also advertises items to sell to you including animated display pictures, emoticons and backgrounds. The contact list window style was also updated to match instant message windows. This was the last version to run on non-NT versions of Windows. This version also introduces the X-Box Live Integration feature. (See Below)

MSN Messenger 7.5

Released August 23rd, 2005. Introduced an updated Passport credentials system. New features are the Dynamic Backgrounds feature, Voice Clips and the msnim protocol handler, allowing Web sites to provide links which automatically add a contact or start conversations (for example clicking on link msnim:chat?contact=login@passport.net will start chat conversation with user login@passport.net). The Voice Clip feature lets you hold down F2 and record a message for a limited time and send it to the recipient. The window for conversations changed slightly with a Video button and a different position for the webcam icon (under the display picture). However this version only runs on Windows XP.

MSN Messenger QFE Patch

With the release of version 7.5, MSN Messenger started using Windows Installer patches [2] for its auto-update feature. When a user selects yes to an update prompt upon sign in, the application will download a MSP file specific to updating that version to the latest and execute in the background. The largest patch thus far is 1.5MB, relatively smaller than downloading the entire MSI installation package, which can be up to 9.3MB.

MSN Web Messenger

MSN Web Messenger is a browser-based messaging program that allows MSN users to instant-message people on their contact list, from computers that do not or cannot have the program installed (ie public computers). Web Messenger was launched in August 2004, and is convenient for people who are using the internet away from home, or own computers that are some way incompatible with the MSN program. On the contact list for MSN Messenger users, the status of somebody using Web messenger is either displayed as a globe (), or by appending the word (Web) after their name, depending on the version of MSN Messenger used.

Windows Live Messenger 8

Main article: Windows Live Messenger

"Windows Live Messenger" is the new name for "MSN Messenger" currently at version 8.0.05666, separating MSN's content division (MSN.com, MSN Money, etc), which retains the MSN brand, from their service division (Hotmail, Messenger, etc), now collectively known as "Windows Live". It is now in open beta and can be downloaded at the official website. However, you must be signed up as a beta tester to use the software, or receive an invite from a current active beta tester. The sign-ups are virtually instant, but they retain control over them in case demand becomes too high.

Protocol

MSN Messenger uses the Mobile Status Notification Protocol (MSNP) over TCP (and optionally over HTTP to deal with proxies) to connect to the .NET Messenger Service — a service offered on port 1863 of messenger.hotmail.com. Its current version is 13 (MSNP13), used by MSN Messenger version 7.5 and other third-party clients. The protocol is not completely secret; Microsoft disclosed version 2 (MSNP2) to developers in 1999 in an Internet Draft, but never released versions 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 to the public. .NET Messenger Service servers currently only accept protocol versions from 8 and on, so the syntax of new commands from versions 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 is only known by using sniffers like Ethereal. MSNP13 will be the protocol used in Windows Live Messenger 8

Xbox Live Integration

As of MSN Messenger 7.0, the client now offers a level of integration with Microsoft's Xbox Live Internet Gaming service. Users of MSN Messenger can go to the Xbox Website and link their gamertag to Microsoft's .NET Passport network. This will allow MSN Messenger to report the user's Xbox Live friends list, as well as allow them to send game invitations to players, so that the user does not have to be on Xbox Live in order to arrange games. This feature goes along with Microsoft's continuing goal to place integration between their various services. After December 2nd, Xbox Live Intergration had temporarily malfunctioned. This was due to the change in hardware and protocol brought with the release of the Xbox 360. The error was soon corrected however, and full functionality is available

Games

Solitaire Showdown

MSN Messenger versions 6 onwards contains this game (in the Games menu), based on the original Solitaire in Windows. It is online, 2 player, and features 2 decks (a triple deck, and a special 13-card pile). Each player must race to remove cards of the special 13-card pile, and put their cards on the shared piles/suit stacks (e.g. putting an ace of any suit on the pile, but putting 2's of a suit may only be possible after the ace of the suit is currently on the pile, not covered by any other cards). There are eight different suit stacks possible. Other differences between this and normal Solitaire, is that not just Kings, but any card can be put on a blank row stack, and there are four black row stacks to put on instead of seven. The game ends if one player removes all cards of the 13-card pile, or when both players are "stuck" and cannot remove/put up any more cards, and manually end the game using the End Game button.

Scoring

Putting a card up on the suit stack gives 1 point, while removing a card from the 13-card pile (i.e. putting such a card on one of the row stacks) will give 2 points (hence it is also possible to get 3 points by directly putting a card from the 13-card pile on to the suit stacks).

American checkers

A standard two-player game of checkers.

Bejeweled

A two-player game where pairs of jewels on a playfield are switched to arrange three or more in a line of the same colour therefore removing them from the game. It is played in real time and individually, with scores being compared at the end.

Minesweeper Flags

In a twist on the original game, players must now locate flags and whoever has found the most by the end wins (i.e. the first person to get 26 or more mines wins). There are 51 mines on the map. If you find a flag you get to continue, otherwise it becomes your opponent's turn. Players get the one-off option to "bomb" a 5x5 area if they are losing, and get all the flags in that area (hence it is possible to get more than 26 mines).

Other Games

Other "Instant Games" include: Jewel Quest, Mahjong Quest, Quarto, Backgammon, 7 Hand Poker, Mah Jong Tiles, Tic Tac Toe and Tic Tac Toe Classic, Polar Express Bejeweled, Cubis, Hexic and Mozaki Blocks.

A number of additional third-party games have also been made available through use of various patches (eg. MSN Custom Games Patch), which change where the game information is requested via HTTP by the client.

Applications

Whiteboard
It opens up a program that looks like paint, but it is shared through two users. They can see what each other draws. This Whiteboard also supports different pages, to allow drawing across many different pages.
Application Sharing

Application Sharing Allows two computers to share an application over the network. This is usually a samller application, as most computers cannot handle large programs on two systems at once.

Remote Assistance
(Windows XP only) Remote assitance opens up a program that allows two computers to connect together. At first it opens up a new conversation that on both computers. The expert has an additional feature of viewing the desktop of the other person’s computer. One person (the expert) can "take control" of the other persons computer after the non-expert has accepted the take control command. This allows both people to have complete control over whoever's computer asked for assistance. At anytime the persons computer that is being controlled can terminate the connection by pressing the Esc key on the keyboard. This is very useful when offering computer assistance to friends and family on other computers through MSN.

Activity SDK

In September 2005 Microsoft introduced the MSN Messenger activity SDK (Software Development Kit), allowing developers to create their own multi-user games and applications for MSN Messenger. Simultaneously Microsoft started the World's Best App competition to promote the SDK.

Competition

The most significant rivals of MSN Messenger are AIM (from AOL), ICQ, QQ, Skype and a myriad of other Jabber based clients. As of October 13th, 2005, MSN Messenger and former rival Yahoo! Messenger will join forces to create the second largest instant messenger userbase worldwide.

For Windows and Linux users, an open source instant messaging client known as Gaim also exists. It does not yet have the level of functionality that MSN Messenger does, rather it focuses on more general things. Besides MSN, it is capable of supporting other chat protocols. Many third-party multi-protocol clients are based on Gaim using the libgaim library, for example Adium and Proteus (instant messenger).

Yahoo! has released an IM Version which has some new features similar to those in MSN Messenger 7. Drag-and-drop photos to the messenger window is a typical example.

Also, AOL has been busy developing a new version of their AIM client, codenamed "Triton". Triton will later be referred to as AIM 6.0 when released to the public. The client is currently in its beta stages and highlights include tabbed chatting, a modernized interface, and Multi-party voice chat. It is also being completely rewritten from the ground up to support VoIP (a.k.a. IP Telephony or Internet telephony).

Recently, Google has entered the IM competition with its new Google Talk, first released as a beta version for only users with Gmail accounts. Google Talk uses open protocols, Jabber for the IM part and Jingle Audio for the voice part, and it encourages the use of clients other than their own in connecting to the Google Talk service. To further this goal, they have released an open source cross-platform library, libjingle, which can be used by other IM programs to easily implement interoperability with Google Talk.

In China, an instant messenger named QQ is predominantly used. Although used little outside of China, its domestic users number as many as 226 million. However, its popularity has recently been greatly weakened, since the entering into the Chinese market of MSN Messenger. Up to now, MSN Messenger has taken about 17% of the Chinese market, a figure which is becoming increasingly larger.

On October 13th, 2005, Yahoo! and Microsoft announced plans to introduce interoperability between their two messagers 1, creating the second largest instant messenger userbase worldwide: 40% of all users (AIM currently holds 56%). The announcement comes after years of 3rd party interoperability success (most notably, Trillian, Gaim) and criticisms from Google that the major instant messengers were locking their networks.

Criticism

The protocol is closed and Microsoft has made two attempts of locking out third-party clients by requiring data transformed by the use of hash functions when connecting. However, both algorithms have been reverse engineered. The winks have a digital signature, which the official client always checks. It will not play winks that are not signed by Microsoft.

Ever since MSN Messenger has been released, it has been targeted entirely towards Windows users, leaving Mac users with a limited featureless client, only allowing them to chat with other MSN users but with no additional ways to interact (e.g. webcam, ink, etc). Some believe that this is a way of forcing Macintosh users to use Windows, so they may use the complete MSN Messenger.

Users of Linux have also effectively been left in the dark, requiring third party software to log in and access their profile stored on the MSN Messenger servers. Such third party software is usually one of many alternative instant messaging clients, such as aMSN, Gaim or Kopete. Gaim and Kopete are included in many Linux distributions, supporting a range of other instant messaging protocols, such as the AOL, Yahoo! and ICQ clients.

MSN Messenger contains an advertising bar as standard, some other IM programs (Gaim, Trillian etc) do not. Critics consider the interface cluttered, with no options to edit it in an unmodified version.

Censorship controversy

There has been a major uproar about certain messages being unable to be delivered through the Messenger network. Messages containing "download.php", "gallery.php", "profile.php?" or ".scr" close the conversation window, return a "Failed to deliver message" or simply don't appear, depending on the version of the client. [3]

The original intention of this filtering is unknown, but it is suggested that it's probably for spam- and virus-prevention purposes.

See also

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