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Information Technology News Microsoft releases Windows Live Messenger beta
Information Technology News Microsoft releases Windows Live Messenger beta | Microsoft releases Windows Live Messenger beta |
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| by Stan Beer | |
| Wednesday, 10 May 2006 | |
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Microsoft has made its new Windows Live Messenger beta available to the public for download at the Windows Live Ideas Web site. The beta includes customer- driven feature enhancements including PC-to-phone calling in six additional EU countries. According to Microsoft, the public beta release of Windows Live Messenger has a fresh look and feel, is easy to personalize and features a toolbar that provides one-click access to customer services. "Windows Live Messenger is changing the way people communicate and stay in touch," said Martin Taylor, corporate vice president of Windows Live and MSN at Microsoft. "With powerful sharing, collaboration and communications tools designed to put the user firmly in control of their communications experience, Windows Live Messenger is a key part of the foundation of Windows Live. The several million consumers already in the managed beta have been giving us great feedback, and we're excited to make the beta of Windows Live Messenger to users worldwide."Some features include the following: -- Windows Live Call with Verizon Web Calling service. With one click, users can go directly to the Windows Live Call feature and, through the Verizon Web Calling service, place outbound local voice calls and domestic or international long-distance voice calls over the Internet. Service is already offered to customers in five countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. As of next week, the calling service will be available in localized languages and currencies for six new markets -- Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. -- Cordless phones designed exclusively for Windows Live Messenger. Beginning today, customers will be able to purchase phones from companies such as Uniden Corp. and Philips that make Windows Live Call available through the handset, which can be used to make landline and Internet phone calls. Consumers can use their cordless phones anywhere in the home, while away from the PC. -- Windows Live Contacts. Users can choose which contacts they want updated. -- Unified contacts. Users can have up to 600 contacts, and search using the word wheel feature, which automatically sorts the contact list. -- Sharing Folders through dragging and dropping their files and personal photos to their Windows Live Messenger window. -- Offline instant message (IM). Customers can now send an IM to their offline contacts, who will receive the IM the next time they log in. -- Video conversation. The free synchronized audio and video service in Windows Live Messenger, powered by Logitech International SA, allows customers to view and talk to others through their PCs in full- screen video with one push of a button using the webcams and broadband Internet connections. Microsoft claims to have 240 million users of its IM service - compared to just 100 million Skype users. However, Skype is catching up fast and has a similar range of features.{moscomment}
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