Microsoft releases Windows Live Messenger beta

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 10 May 2006 10:09

Your IT - Home IT

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.