Neowin.net - Exclusive: MSN Messenger 6.0 and MSN Radio details emerge

Exclusive: MSN Messenger 6.0 and MSN Radio details emerge

Posted by Tom Warren on 11 May 2003 - 20:34 · 29 comments & 10747 views

MSN Messenger 6.0 Details
Yesterday we exclusively revealed the release date for MSN Messenger 6.0 and discussed the possibilities for the future of both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger. Today more details have emerged about what MSN Messenger 6.0 will bring. According to reliable sources close to neowin, MSN Messenger is indeed going straight for the consumer and leaving Windows Messenger far behind (in terms of functions).

MSN Messenger 6.0, due to be released on the 17th of July will include a myriad of personalization options aimed at home users. Users will have the option to have a "My MSN Picture" which is a buddy picture of yourself displayed in much the same way as in MSN Explorer 8.0. Users will also see better Webcam support for Windows XP, more games and most importantly 75 new emoticons. There will be the possibilty to use your own emoticons, however the other person you are chatting to will have to have these emoticons too - this isn't very clear at this stage.

For everyone into Instant Messaging and for the guys over at Mess with MSN Messenger it will be a great release. This kind of customization doesn't stop here though. Also included will be "chat backgrounds" (allowing users to customize what they see whilst they are chatting) and the ability to log MSN Messenger conversations (the guys over at Messenger Plus! might have something to say about that one). Whatever happens, on the 17th of July MSN will have set up services specifically targetted at it's MSN 8 subscribers to combine the functionality of MSN Messenger 6.0 with that of MSN Explorer 8.5.

MSN Radio Plus & Mobile Plus details
MSN Radio Plus is due to launch this week. At the moment it doesn't look like it will be bundled with MSN 8's BOYA (Bring Your Own Access). This means the service may have a fee in addition to that of your MSN 8 subscription. Details emerging at the moment suggest it will be $4.99 a month or $29.99 anually. If this is correct it means MSN's Radio Plus is cheaper than Yahoo!'s LaunchCast Plus, priced at $35.99 anually. Could this new service be a serious competitor for Apple's iTunes or just another Radio service?

Also due to launch soon is MSN Mobile Plus (or Premium Mobile). Although we have very few details about this new service, it will be very welcome to those who use mobile devices, such as Pocket PCs, on the move. Stay tuned for more details on this.

Screenshot: MSN Radio Plus concept

View: MSN Radio Plus due to be launched here, later this week

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.

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Full name: Tom Warren
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#1 Posted by m0 on 11 May 2003 - 20:40: This is excellent, thanks for posting creamhackered... m0.

(3 replies) #2 Posted by rob.derosa on 11 May 2003 - 20:43: 75 new emoticons

#3 Posted by Zero1 on 11 May 2003 - 20:49: Pretty kick ass

#4 Posted by als345 on 11 May 2003 - 21:05: yay

(1 reply) #5 Posted by Jason on 11 May 2003 - 21:08: MSN Messenger is for the home users and available to both 2000 and XP clients, Windows Messenger is for corporate users and only available to XP ?? this needs to be available to 2000 users too.

#6 Posted by params on 11 May 2003 - 21:25: 17th July - ooooh my birthday Hint, hint lol

(1 reply) #7 Posted by pctuk on 11 May 2003 - 21:41: Great stuff. [QUOTE]Although we have [b]very few details[/b] about this new service, it [b]will be very welcome[/b] to those who use mobile devices, such as Pocket PCs, on the move.[/QUOTE] Eh? Either you know more than you say or you're guessing it will be good without knowing?

(4 replies) #8 Posted by Yakkob on 11 May 2003 - 21:42: rofl at > "most importantly 75 new emoticons." Whoop dee Doo

#9 Posted by DjmUK on 11 May 2003 - 23:47: This is great news, and a release date too , as soon as it's available I'll be installing it straight away! New emoticons, buddy pic, it's definitely getting more advanced - but still easy to use, M$ are getting bluddey good these days aren't they, this includes Longhorn which rocks! so far, and it's still got 1-2 years left of development. I know people out there don't like M$, but I do

(1 reply) #10 Posted by swhitty on 11 May 2003 - 23:47: MSN emotions really help me express myself....i don't think i have 75 different emotions though....maybe cos i'm not girl.

(2 replies) #11 Posted by ShoeHornOPlenty on 12 May 2003 - 02:05: Hmmm, I dont really like how (if it happens) that MSN Radio Plus wont be available to those who are software subscribers to MSN. I mean sure I would sign up for MSN Broadband and ditch my current ISP, problem is, they arent available in Canada to my knowledge. Oh well, hopefully it will be free, or at least have a free trial run to give it a shot.

(1 reply) #12 Posted by Quick Reply on 12 May 2003 - 04:32: MSN Messenger 6.0 better be better than 5.0, I hate 5.0 so much because of the spyware/skin/features that take you to the MSN8 site to sign up instead of letting you use it, (eg. shared browsing)

#13 Posted by BluTech on 12 May 2003 - 18:03: Hey do you have MSN Messenger 6? Or do you know were i can find it. Im currently testing MSN 8.5 and i duno if it comes with that or not?

#14 Posted by zone2force on 12 May 2003 - 20:24: WoW

#15 Posted by josluis on 13 May 2003 - 14:27: NEW MSN? GUAUUUU!!!!!!!! it would be great..!!!!!!!!!!!!![SIZE=1][B]

#16 Posted by QuaKeD on 16 May 2003 - 19:37: MSN Radio looks just like... Launch

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