Microsoft Polishes Apple Messenger

Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit has made its first contribution to Macworld: a new version of its MSN Messenger software for Mac OS X. Messenger 5.0 for Mac boasts improved security, support for Live Communications Server, extended e-mail and contact information integration, and sports a new user interface.

Microsoft also took advantage of the Macworld spotlight to announce several new add-ons for Office 2004.

MSN Messenger's improvements to security are born out of the product's support for Live Communications Server, which provides network administrators with additional options to secure corporate instant messaging within a firewall. Microsoft insists that support for the server amounts to more secure corporate communications.

According to the company, Live Communications Server also permits server-side session logging.

Further additions stemming from Microsoft's horizontal product integration include better integration with Global Address List and the Microsoft Entourage client.

Not to be outdone, MSN's Messenger product group has designed its own improvements. The interface of version 5.0 mirrors the Mac look and feel with new user tiles. What's more, a tabbed viewing element displays corporate and personal accounts side by side within the same client.

MSN Messenger is complemented by a beta quality e-mail import tool that migrates data from Outlook 2001 for Mac to Entourage 2004, as well as by updates to Entourage 2004 that enrich Exchange Server support.

These improvements will give Entourage the capacity to view multiple calendars, deepen server and client synchronization, as well as revamp permissions and change the public folder experience and mailbox quota management tools.

Microsoft's Entourage update package will be delivered during the first half of 2004; MSN Messenger for Mac 5.0 is also expected to meet that deadline.

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