Microsoft Integrates Messenger with Xbox Live

By Ed Oswald | Published April 9, 2007, 11:22 AM

Microsoft has announced its planned upgrades to the Xbox 360, expected on May 7. Among the new features are integration with the Windows Live Messenger network.

The new functionality expands the messaging capabilities beyond the Xbox Live gaming network to the entire Messenger community. The messaging services will be unified for simplicity's sake, Microsoft says.

For example, if a WLM user has a gamertag on Xbox Live, it will be shown in their friends list on the console. Microsoft expects the service to promote further use of the communication options of the Xbox 360; two million voice and text messages are already sent per day.

"Bringing the largest IM community in the world, Windows Live Messenger, to Xbox 360 makes sense, as Xbox LIVE has really become the largest social network on television," Xbox Live product unit head Jerry Johnson said.

Users will be able to chat using the on-screen or compatible external USB keyboard. An accessory that adds a QWERTY keyboard to the standard Xbox 360 controller will be launched in the summer.

In addition to the Messenger features, the Spring Update will also include several other requested features, including richer achievement notification pop-ups, enhancements to the family settings feature, and a new Marketplace blade for easier access to premium content.

Microsoft also plans to make several enhancements to the Xbox Live Arcade, which will allow users to see what Arcade games their friends are playing, as well as better Tell a Friend and Leaderboard capabilities. A user will also be able to download the entire collection of trial games through a new option in Auto Downloads.

Other updates address playback while downloading content, as well as auto-shutoff after completion, the company added.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

Why? So people can get spammed on xbox live?
What fugging idiot decided to do this?

Score: 0

|

If something like this were coming to the PS3 you would be praising it. Since when do you get spam on Live Messenger anyway? You realize only people on your contacts list can talk to you, right?

Score: 0

|

You must be thinking of someone else... I dont even own the PS3 but nice try anyways.

Score: 0

|

Umm...You don't haft to use it...Nobody is going to twist your arm and make you add people to your 360s Messenger.

Score: 0

|

He didn't say you did.

Score: 0

|

nigg@ are you nuts motherfuker?????, SPAM IS E-MAIL YOU RETARD!!!!!!!!< YOU DONT GET SPAM IN WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER< JUST IN EMAILS YOU STUP!D RETARD

Score: 0

|

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)

While the most widely recognized form of spam is email spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, mobile phone messaging spam, internet forum spam and junk fax transmissions.

Score: 0

|

It's called SPIM...

Score: 0

|

Stupid fanboy, you don't know the difference between Live Messenger and the old messenger service in Windows.

Score: 0

|

Google Chrome 4: Yes, it's fast, but is it usable?

As Betanews readers have responded to our stories about Chrome's JavaScript superiority...Does that mean we'd actually use this browser? Well...

Video: Netflix on PlayStation 3

Netflix has come to the PlayStation 3 via Blu-ray and BD-Live.

Verizon Wireless launches new Android, Chocolate, and ruggedized phones

The lower-priced Eris joins the Droid, while the Chocolate gets a touchscreen and more music playback.

Early sales figures for Windows 7 nicely high, but do we know why?

Fans of triple-digit surges in figures quoted by Betanews will love this one, as it appears Microsoft rediscovered how to pull off a software launch.

Myka announces its latest Linux-based 'net top box'

Myka's ION brings Boxee, XMBC, and much more to HDTVs.

What hath Mac wrought? A remembrance after a quarter-century

The reason there's a Macintosh today is not because of some brilliant flash of engineering genius, but because Apple had the audacity to learn from its mistakes.

Early build of Moblin 2.1 improves connectivity, but not device support

The Linux Foundation's Atom-centric OS yesterday received a major overhaul with the project release of Moblin 2.1 for netbooks and nettops.

The iPhone's China syndrome: Sales of 5,000 and climbing

There's actually a country where Apple's device is not a godsend, where sales can be measured in the dozens.

New European counterpart to FCC will ensure 'a more neutral net'

Late Thursday night, the ruling telecom administrators of the EU's member nations signed away their final authority to a new entity overseen by the EC.

Sophos study suggests Windows 7 UAC's default setting is self-defeating

Without any anti-virus installed, a Sophos test showed, User Account Control was only capable of thwarting just one malware package out of ten samples chosen.

Indiscreet tweet trips awareness of Web SSL vulnerability

A group of high-level security engineers had been making progress on thwarting a low-level threat to the Web, until somebody blurted it all out on Twitter.