Windows or MSN Messenger, which one is it going to be?

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Just lately the vast majority of internet forums have been confused by what Microsoft are doing with their Instant Messaging clients, Windows and MSN Messenger. Will there be regular updates to Windows Messenger? Will MSN Messenger take over and Windows Messenger be pushed to the side?

I aim to answer these questions or try to think what Microsoft and MSN might be doing with these two technologies. At the moment Windows Messenger 5 is in beta. The beta is public to beta testers on its own but JDP (Joint Development Program) when included with Real-Time Communications server (greenwich). From the version as it stands at the moment (5.0.149) there are major indications this product may eventually end up as just a corporate instant messaging client. The functionality of being able to check your Hotmail emails has been removed (just like 4.7 but with no similar add-in or indication of one) and instead replaced with the ability to check your POP3 email in Outlook Express/Outlook if you're lucky.

Windows Messenger 5 includes Inking ability. Users with a Tablet PC can send and recieve digital Ink and users without a Tablet can recieve digital Ink but not send any. At the moment most users of Tablet PCs are either educational outlets or corporate companies. MSN Messenger 6.0 will also include Inking ability. This is confirmed by Microsoft themselves in a help file included in Windows Messenger 5.0 (see this screenshot). This help file not only shows Inking will be included in the MSN client but it also confirms that MSN are working on MSN Messenger 6.0

At the moment we are 2 months away from a nice update. MSN Messenger 6.0 is due to be released on July 17th to mark 4 years from when MSN Messenger 1.0 was originally released. As the MSN department is intergrating MSN Messenger to MSN Explorer more deeply now, we'll also see the official release of MSN Explorer 8.5 by the end of this month. After this is complete, work will start on MSN Explorer 9 which will have MSN Messenger 6.0 included at the start.

Read more....

Screenshot: View MSN Messenger 6.0 confirmation

View: View Windows Messenger 5 kicks off

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.

(1 reply) #1 fdiaz2day on 10 May 2003 - 20:02

I think they will keep both.

#1.1 creamhackered on 10 May 2003 - 20:08

Yup they might well do, but WM will be heavily limited.

(2 replies) #2 csdavidson on 10 May 2003 - 20:06

isn't it some legal thing? doj whining again about ms intergrating stuff into windows? that's why it's windows messenger and not msn in win xp?

#2.1 OddFox on 10 May 2003 - 23:30

Uh... no.

#2.2 mugabe221 on 11 May 2003 - 10:59

probably

(1 reply) #3 JaggedFlame on 10 May 2003 - 20:08

I don't get it. If they wanted customers to start using MSN Messenger and drop Windows Messenger, couldn't they just stop updating Windows Messenger altogether? Why bother phasing it out when you can just get rid of it?

#3.1 creamhackered on 10 May 2003 - 20:18

Indeed, this whole situation makes no sense. It confuses everyone. Which is why they need to address it.

(1 reply) #4 XeroByte on 10 May 2003 - 20:22

that is becoming more and more annoying 'cause both have their own advantages...

#4.1 kal-ky on 11 May 2003 - 04:31

Depends, to me they both have disadvantages and I would never ever use them. I have an alternative that rules (and it not Trillian, because that sucks too :-))

(1 reply) #5 fdiaz2day on 10 May 2003 - 20:34

They need to combine them and make it... Microsoft Messenger

#5.1 JediXAngel on 11 May 2003 - 16:49

Yeah

#6 cheekymonkey on 10 May 2003 - 20:37

Excellent piece Cream. Quite by coincidence I got my WM5 beta access yesterday... but don't know whether to install at home or not given that I am a MSN Explorer 8.5 user. What dya reckon guys?

#7 CheeseCow on 10 May 2003 - 20:38

Yes, it's just silly to install MSN Messenger, and having two versions just confuses things like MSN Plus, not to mention Joe User.

#8 fdiaz2day on 10 May 2003 - 20:41

hmm...now that i think of it, the only real use to have 2 messengers like this is to sign into 2 names...

#9 kainashi on 10 May 2003 - 22:40

#8: that's what i do.

#10 Avenger on 10 May 2003 - 22:43

Is is possible to keep Windows Messenger 5 beta and Windows Messenger 4.7 installed on the same pc?

#11 DarkLordSouron on 10 May 2003 - 22:47

i dont like messenger 5 4.7 does it well

(2 replies) #12 yashiro on 10 May 2003 - 22:48

Hello Microsoft, THIS IS STUPID Thanks,

#12.1 creamhackered on 10 May 2003 - 22:52

Lol I'm sure they'll appreciate the feedback

#12.2 JediXAngel on 11 May 2003 - 16:51

LOL

(3 replies) #13 Dark Vageta on 10 May 2003 - 23:11

ok STUID qestion whats the Diffrence in Msn messanger and Windows messnager

#13.1 thedarkavenger on 10 May 2003 - 23:15

*stupid

#13.2 Dark Vageta on 11 May 2003 - 00:15

IM soory Sorry i made a boo boo do me a fav stop posting !

#13.3 BOFH on 11 May 2003 - 01:32

Well, Messnager is the French for "messing about whilst swimming", and "Messanger" is a miss-spelling of Messenger. Apart from that, one has the word "Windows" in it, and the other has "MSN".

#14 longwilli on 10 May 2003 - 23:27

windows messenger allthough both should be kept windows messenger hasn't got all the visual rubbish and frilly bits that i dont care about, just what i need and nothing more. It integrates alot better with windows 2003 with its general look also

(1 reply) #15 JaggedFlame on 10 May 2003 - 23:40

It'd be nice if maybe Windows Messenger turned into a corporate IM solution and MSN Messenger turned into the general purpose IM solution. It looks like this is what's going on, at least from my standpoint. But yeah, they need to address the issue.

#15.1 Neobond on 11 May 2003 - 10:36

Why would the average Joe who bought Windows XP Home Edition want a corporate IM solution? because thats what he would be upgrading too.

#16 net-cruizer on 11 May 2003 - 01:27

Yeah MS sure does need to make it just one Messenger again. Both do different things than each other and are compatible with different things. Like how MSN Messenger needs Windows Messenger installed to do some things, and MSN Explorer in Windows XP isn't compatible with MSN Messenger, which is really weird. As for any of the options, a person should be able to choose what they want.

(2 replies) #17 nathanintu on 11 May 2003 - 02:42

You gotta stop going around and sayig WM5 is a corporate client just becaus it doesnt check your Hotmail... at this time. there has been no word at all what it will be. But from my point of view. WM should come as the dafult instant messaging program on windows. as does iCHAT on OSx. Im STILL useing WM4 that came with XP Home. its a great program. no ads

A program built in to Windows shoulden't have ads eather.

#17.1 JaggedFlame on 11 May 2003 - 03:01

I didn't say it was a corporate client. I said it would be nice if it were a corporate client. I know Microsoft has looked into Windows Messenger for corporate use, so it is a very real possibility that Windows Messenger could be used for corporate IM. The same could be said about MSN Messenger, I suppose, but I don't know why they would want to do that.

#17.2 creamhackered on 11 May 2003 - 03:13

The fact remains WM5 IS now a corporate client and WILL be marketed as a corporate client. So I can "go around" saying that. Whether it will be just a corporate client is another matter...

(3 replies) #18 Thebuggerguy on 11 May 2003 - 03:16

Why did Microsoft make Windows Messenger integrated into XP anyway? They were going well with MSN Messenger. in my opinion, they should have added all those extra corporate features to MSN Messenger, that way, both home and office users can have the same program.

#18.1 kal-ky on 11 May 2003 - 04:32

Because they want world domination stupid. They integrate their programs in Windows because everyone would use them. Users are too stupid/lazy to seek for better alternatives.

#18.2 nathanintu on 11 May 2003 - 05:57

[neoquote=#18.0 by Thebuggerguy]Why did Microsoft make Windows Messenger integrated into XP anyway? They were going well with MSN Messenger. in my opinion, they should have added all those extra corporate features to MSN Messenger, that way, both home and office users can have the same program. [/neoquote] True

#18.3 Knight' on 11 May 2003 - 18:57

I think they should make Windows Messenger work on any version of 'Windows' , because the name is a little misleading don't you agree (it's more like XP messenger). And the MSN Messenger, that should just be Renamed to Windows Messenger Professional, this would make it clear that this version of Messenger is for the corperate market.

(2 replies) #19 SMG on 11 May 2003 - 03:21

I got accepted as a beta tester yesterday, but I can assure you that I'm going to stick with 4.7 WM5 hasn't got any new features, at least none that I'm ever going to use. MSN5 keeps wanting me to send my personal information, which I'm sure is illegal since it never stops bugging me. In addition, MSN5 has a really ugly interface, and I still can't understand what's wrong with plain common controls, i'm certain that consistant styles was a [i]feature[/i] in windows 3.0, why take it out now, I can't stand skins. In conclusion, I just want a Messenger that checks my hotmail, lets me talk to my friends, and has a very easy to use interface (easy to use as in no stupid skins!), I suspect that they developed it to as good as it's going to get, so they are just changing stuff in it because they need [i]something[/i] to do in order to keep their jobs.

#19.1 SMG on 11 May 2003 - 03:24

OT: I havn't used this computer in like 6 months yet I'm still logged in under my old user name

, I'm [I]Quick Reply[/I] if you didn't know

#19.2 Avenger on 11 May 2003 - 21:24

So, whats the point of being a Beta tester for WM5 if your are going to just us WM 4.7? Can you keep both versions?

(1 reply) #20 yakbone on 11 May 2003 - 03:56

they better allow to ink from a non tablet-pc edition of windows, im sick of my graphics tablet being discriminated against

#20.1 Slugbait on 30 Jun 2003 - 19:07

Not likely. Over 99% of all desktop PC's have no input devices or capabilities for ink, so there's no financial justification for MS to persue this. However, I've heard unsubstantiated reports that you can turn your box into an ink machine by installing the TabletPC SDK. One of the "system requirements" is an external digitizer, but no guarantee if your tablet will work. You can download it at msdn.

Note: DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Be sure to image before installing the SDK in case something goes horribly awry.

(2 replies) #21 fb- on 11 May 2003 - 06:41

Go Trillian.

#21.1 JediXAngel on 11 May 2003 - 16:56

Ditto

#21.2 rocks1985 on 30 Jun 2003 - 15:41

double ditto

(1 reply) #22 Knight' on 11 May 2003 - 10:45

It would be nice if the differences between Windows and MSN Messenger were clearly defined. If Windows Messenger is going to be a coperate IM and not use Hotmail then why use a Hotmail E-mail address to login with?

#22.1 startechstudios on 11 May 2003 - 19:02

you don`t need a hotmail email address to log into windows messenger you only need a passport. I use my own email address windows messenger

#23 j2000wall on 11 May 2003 - 11:50

I've got windows messenger, I installed msn messenger when windows messenger told me it was a update about a year ago but I had one big problem with it; when it installed it disabled windows messenger, so thats fine, but when I opened outlook express my contacts wouldn't be loaded from msn messenger like they were from windows messenger and so it would load windows messenger as well without asking me. Does anyone know a way around this, apart from this i have no problem with MSN or Windows Messenger there basically the same thing!

#24 Sta5 on 11 May 2003 - 18:29

is it out already as a beta?

(1 reply) #25 Knight' on 11 May 2003 - 18:35

How are they going to make WM a coperate IM? Anyone know of the new features?

#25.1 JaggedFlame on 11 May 2003 - 20:07

For one thing, they're integrating it more closely with Microsoft Exchange.

(1 reply) #26 SidVicious on 11 May 2003 - 18:36

MSN Messenger is a crap...Windows Messenger rulez.

#26.1 Knight' on 11 May 2003 - 18:51

(1 reply) #27 naap51stang on 12 May 2003 - 03:34

I haven't used Messenger since Trillian came out a couple years ago. I use Trillian Pro, so I can use ONE client, to connect to multiple messenger services. I can't get everyone I chat with to use ONE client. It's a pain, even on a LARGE screen to fool with AIM, MSN, YAHOO, IRC, ICQ......

#27.1 Alvin on 13 May 2003 - 16:42

[neoquote=#27.0 by naap51stang]I haven't used Messenger since Trillian came out a couple years ago. I use Trillian Pro, so I can use ONE client, to connect to multiple messenger services. I can't get everyone I chat with to use ONE client. It's a pain, even on a LARGE screen to fool with AIM, MSN, YAHOO, IRC, ICQ......

[/neoquote] This is a Messenger News! Don't come in here and advert for other clients. I've used Trillian Pro before but after some times I switch back to just the ONE client I want to use, Messenger. Even though I've all the other services, what's better to use than the product that made it?

#28 mipra on 14 May 2003 - 02:52

i'll say i'd go with the windows messenger

#29 schifo on 15 May 2003 - 15:56

I installed Windows Messenger 5.0 (5.0.0149) and I'm now able to have banned words in my nickname. I used to have v4.7 and I remember it telling me that I wasn't allowed to used some banned words. Is this only with WM 5.0 ? Can anyone verify this.

#30 *Bobby*Digital* on 05 Jun 2003 - 07:22

ignore this post....... testing something..........

#31 memodude on 30 Jun 2003 - 14:51

Yet more strange - Microsoft is targeting Windows Messenger toward Windows XP users through their Do Amazing Things campaign.

The four 'experiences' they're trying to promote are:

Windows Media Player
Windows Movie Maker
Digital Photography
Windows Messenger

And now they have MSN Messenger, which is now obviously better, and might now support the Messenger-API (MSN Messenger 6 suppresses Windows Messenger, but I think it supports a portion of the API). For a while (when 6 wasn't leaked yet), I used Windows Messenger 4.7 because MSN Messenger 5 caused Windows Messenger to pop up in the taskbar all the time, because they were trying to get my contact list.

#32 rocks1985 on 30 Jun 2003 - 15:40

I think microsoft will move to a future where there will be two versions of everything. Anything with the word "windows" in front of it will be a free, stripped down simplified version of a software product. Anything with the word MSN in front of it will be a fully loaded software program that may cost money, or more money than a windows version would.

#33 philmcneal on 01 Jul 2003 - 01:02

microsoft just wants money

#34 andi_kam on 29 Aug 2006 - 11:02

Windows Messenger is the way forward, much prefer its new design.

gengaming.com

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