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GameSpy Arcade v1.3b is now available, making it even more enjoyable for gamers across the globe to play games online. The subscriber and basic ad-supported versions both offer great new features and can be downloaded now from the GameSpy Arcade Website, while existing users can obtain v1.3b by opening Arcade and following the ugrade prompts.

News source: GameSpyDaily
Download: GameSpy Arcade v1.3b
View: Official website

What does this mean for MSN Messenger you ask? Well, as it is clear from recent emails that customers of phone services (included in Windows Messenger) have received, Microsoft are cutting such services from Windows Messenger forcing their customers to move to MSN Messenger to use these services. This is proof that Microsoft wants home users to use MSN Messenger. Windows Messenger doesn't support MSN Explorer 8 or MSN Explorer 8.5. Yet another reason to switch to MSN Messenger 5.

We're currently seeing a trend where all services included in Windows Messenger are being cut out and added to MSN Messenger 5. The only reason users need Windows Messenger at the moment is for Remote Assistance and its whiteboard features. I can't see this being added to MSN Messenger 6 but I can see support for Windows Messenger 4.7 being dropped for users and a better way of managing both clients on one system.

One interesting thing about Windows Messenger is that not only is it included in Windows XP, Microsoft fully support it via Windows Update and they even updated it in Windows XP SP1. Why now have they decided to stop supporting it fully and start ripping features out of it? Will we see Windows Messenger updated in SP2 like we did in SP1 or will it, like it is at the moment, be pushed aside and forgotten about.

We'll see MSN Messenger 6.0 soon which might answer all the questions users have about the huge mix up Microsoft have made with their Instant Messaging clients or it might not. What will happen with Windows Messenger 4.7 and 5.0? Not much seems to be happening with 4.7, not even any updates to make it 4.8 to show they are working towards a 5.0 release for home users. Windows Messenger 5.0 now supports all of Microsoft's new Real-Time Communication server (greenwich) features. A question I ask myself is will Microsoft drop support for .NET passport sign-in on Windows Messenger 5.0? If they do then this will definitely mean the end of Windows Messenger updates for home users.

I'd like to thank Todd (activewin.com). Neobond, and Spyder for the inspiration to write this article and for dicsussing most of these matters with me and coming to the same conclusion, Microsoft have messed this up. We have contacted Microsoft about Windows and MSN Messenger and posed a few questions to them about this. Unforunately at the moment they haven't been able to get back to us, as soon as they do we'll let you all know.