RSSMSN to Release Updated Chat Client
By David Worthington | Published October 2, 2004, 2:12 AM
Next week Microsoft will launch a new beta version of MSN Messenger. MSN Messenger 7 borrows personalization options from Microsoft's ThreeDegrees test bed, improves contact management and features keenly honed integration with MSN Search. What's more, Redmond is taking the training wheels off of new transactional services.
The ThreeDegrees concept was the brainchild of Microsoft's maverick NetGen product group and was developed with the goal of facilitating social interaction within a group of friends or family members so that "they can do fun things together." Pleased to be of service, the ThreeDegrees group has given the MSN product team a "wink" and a "nudge."
Microsoft describes Winks as animations with sound that grab the attention of IM contacts and convey personal expression. America Online has a name for these too - "AIM Expressions". While Winks make users the center of attention; Nudges provoke attention. Nudges alert IM partners by making notification windows vibrate.
Other options include the ability to set status before log in, including an "invisibility" mode. Microsoft has also exposed display pictures in more areas of the MSN client. In addition, a new contact management feature keeps users connected with contacts.
The integration of Winks into the MSN client comes as no surprise. Microsoft has been experimenting with value added transaction services such as Avatars in Korea and emotion packs in the United Kingdom. The Messenger 7 beta broadens tests of this business model to include background wallpapers, packages of emoticons, and display pictures. The tests will be conducted in the United States, UK and France.
"Many of the features you described are enticing, such as search integration and extension of Avatars, the latter feature which demonstrates the increasing revenue opportunity vendors like Microsoft recognize in IM," Senior Jupiter Research Analyst Joe Wilcox told BetaNews.
Wilcox continued, "I know that Avatars are a big hit for Microsoft in South Korea. Like other IM vendors, Microsoft apparently sees potential revenue through personalization. Based on the information you provided, the company is testing to see how willing people are to pay for emoticons and other goodies."
Rival America Online has already begun to cash in on personalization. In conjunction with the release of the AIM 5.9 clients, AOL rolled out year-long and monthly subscription plans for access to their collection AIM expressions, buddy wallpapers, buddy sounds, 2-D buddy and animated "SuperBuddy" icons.
I downloaded and installed the MSN Messenger 7.0 Beta. I was not impressed. The Winks and Nudges are just annoying things that maybe a 10 year old might like to use. The ability to sign on while staying offline is just for people that want to hide from other people. If you need to hide from someone on your buddy list just be man enough to either take them off of your list or tell them that you don't want them on your list. The only other thing I noticed was a very small change in how it looks. It looks a little nicer. Why would they waste their time to just make small changes like this? People need to go back to the nice streamlined IM clients. ICQ99 was awesome. ICQ is still pretty good. What MSN messenger needs to do is give you the ability to send messages to people when they are offline...and also have the person get the message even when you don't have to be online. ICQ does this. When MSN or AIM does this they may just steal a bunch of ICQ users.
Pros: Better looking.
Cons: Annoying Winks and Nudges. More Bloat. Wants to install 3 other things with MSN Messenger. Luckily you can choose not to. Same as 6.2 Really.
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|I was thinking about not being able to post a login message on MSN Messenger but then thought twice. To be able to access Messenger, one needs to have a MSN Passport with a valid e-mail account associated with it. To leave a message, simply write an e-mail and that person will be notified when they sign in (if the passport is on MSN)
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|I dig the MSN Messenger as it is. The new revision sounds tasty.
Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to bed and have a stroke. A whole page of opinions and NO ONE LAID WASTE TO AND/OR BLASTED MICROSOFT!!!
ack... ack... ack... *THUD*
MEDIC!!!
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|haha, that sure was funny :)
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|MSN messenger is the best IM in the world...
The ICQ developers lost the sense of IM and now, the micro$oft is making a great "free" product...
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|It seems there is a fervent competition in this field, and new solutions are appearing, like Pulver Communicator (http://www.pulver.com/communicator/)
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|As far as i know it's already traveling around the internet.
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|Yes, it is and it looks nice as well.
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|It looks very nice indeed. Can't wait until it's final.
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|it is very good.I like this beta with offline log in
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|It looks like they added some features directly from Messenger Plus as well.
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|That's good news. Hope they will add offline messaging and contact list renaming which has been with ICQ since the beginning of time.
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|That's a must have feature IMHO, also adding tabs on the style of gaim messenger ( http://gaim.sourceforge.net ) can be a cool add
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|I had the Beta but Microsoft forced me to downgrade to 6.2. Sucks a** because MSN Messenger 7 is far superior to 6.2. Only Yahoo! IM is better.
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|here is my site i have created a patch for your msn 7 you can also download msn 7 from there
www.freewebs.com/messengernews
or if you have any problems add me to ur msn
richardbate2004@yahoo.com.au or you can just email me
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