MSN Messenger 6 Beta Public Preview

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Today sees the release of MSN Messenger 6.0 Beta to Public Preview. For over a month the beta has been trialled both externally (non-officially) and internally (officially) and has knocked up 2 million downloads according to a leaked Microsoft memo.

With the wide spread release of MSN Messenger 6 Beta and the already popular uptake it looks as though Messenger 6 is set to rocket to the top to be the number 1 Instant Messaging client.

If you haven't had the chance to try the new client then here's your chance, the build number is 268 making it slightly updated than the leaked builds (250, 256 and 263).

If you're interested in customising your MSN Messenger 6 then head over to Mess.be or ilovemessenger.com where an arrangement of custom emoticons, backgrounds and various downloads can be obtained.

Stayed tuned to Neowin for more coverage on MSN Messenger 6 and it's product lifecycle as well as MSN Explorer 9, coming soon.

Download: Download MSN Messenger 6 Beta Build 268 - Windows XP (4 MB) | Windows 2000 (6 MB) | Windows 98 (6 MB)

Download: French, Italian, German Versions

Download: Download MSN Messenger 6 Ad-Remover

Screenshot: Neowin's Messenger 6 screenshots

View: View Preview Site

View: View Official Press Release

Known Issues and Impacts

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Upon availability, you will need to update your PC client software for Office 2003 to the Office 2003 Beta 2 Technical Refresh to work properly with the Windows SharePoint Services Beta 2 Technical Refresh.
If you have used FrontPage 2003 to edit your site, upon availability, you will need to update to the FrontPage 2003 Beta 2 Technical Refresh version to work properly with Windows SharePoint Services Beta 2 Technical Refresh.
Please do not file any bugs about feature functionality between client and server until you have upgraded to the Beta 2 Technical Refresh of the client.

(3 replies) #1 rob.derosa on 18 Jun 2003 - 06:52

What versions of Windows will this run on?

#1.1 Nickbee on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:10

All versions as long as they have the MSI installer update AFAIK

#1.2 xmintox on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:45

methinks there'll be an exe version of it too, like with MSN Messenger 5

#1.3 Germano on 19 Jun 2003 - 13:13

It is already an exe.
Windows 9x/ME users must update to Windows Instaler 2.0 before installing. Here's the link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...02-DE3BB768148F

As for NT4/2000 users, use this one: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...A1-6F8A0F5DCA8F

(2 replies) #2 CoLdFuSi0n on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:00

oh baby i can't wait

#2.1 Yakkob on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:44

<removed for violating Neowin rules. All other replies in violation have been deleted>

Last edited by 890 on 18 Jun 2003 - 22:27

#2.2 Dj Open Source on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:45

In my experience i find the people who brag about things or try to sound better by telling another to get a life don't have lives in the first place. If you honestly had a life how would you have time to tell other people to get a life, unless ur in that area of business

And who cares if someone is happy about msn 6 its a cool program with many new features that make it exciting, no need to flame him for what he likes. btw i have no life obviously but im content with my life the way it is

#3 mipra on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:33

cant wait....is it on the 18th?

(11 replies) #4 dannyres on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:42

http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/Preview/default.aspx check it out! all new site

its pretty cool... download not up yet... but still its got some info and stuff.

Dan

also check this

LOL

Last edited by 17369 on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:47

#4.1 jono3000 on 18 Jun 2003 - 09:34

Im a Libra LOL

#4.2 kirk26 on 18 Jun 2003 - 10:31

Does she come with the download?

#4.3 Zeni on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:32

If she does hopefully there's an update containing a NOSE JOB. Yeesh

#4.4 tsutton on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:49

Hmm... msnmessenger-download.com is dodgy - it doesn't belong to Microsoft and their name servers is different!

Registrant:
Network OS (AROOATPWFD)
15821 NE 8th St.
Suite W200
Bellevue, WA 98008
US

Domain Name: MSNMESSENGER-DOWNLOAD.COM
WOODINVILLE.NETOS.COM 216.251.100.1
BLACKWIDOW.NETOS.COM 216.251.100.2
NWNEXUS.WA.COM 192.135.191.1
NWFOCUS.WA.COM 192.135.191.3

#4.5 Nickbee on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:08

it does belong to microsoft, why else would they be advertising on MSN Messenger in the adbar? lol

#4.6 lwebster on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:31

- Molly has a problem with Libras?!?

#4.7 tsutton on 18 Jun 2003 - 14:29

QUOTE (#4.5)

True... but come on, it's Microsoft. You know they want to have their names all over the Internet and says "I 0wn these!"

Still, maybe it's one of the parther to develop the site?

#4.8 Dj Open Source on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:48

I hope people seriously don't have conversations like that. See really that conversations is supposed to be Then he called me a b*tch

#4.9 JaggedFlame on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:39

God, that woman is freaky.

#4.10 RanCorX2 on 18 Jun 2003 - 18:55

ahhahahahahah.

#4.11 Liquid on 18 Jun 2003 - 20:31

most of you kno but the download is up now

#5 slay on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:49

cooollll
new version of msn

(till the next...)
can't wait to download it!

(2 replies) #6 Jedimark on 18 Jun 2003 - 07:52

Yay. At last, this version of MSN is certainly the best so far. And when Patchou makes it MSN Plus! compatible in a month or so it will be the best IM client out there.

#6.1 BobSmith on 18 Jun 2003 - 10:05

Since Messenger 6 has logging, I'm now Plus! free.

#6.2 AaronGamer on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:20

QUOTE (#6.1)

same here

(1 reply) #7 belto on 18 Jun 2003 - 08:18

do you tomorrow? i am to understand that this will launch on thursday.

belto...

ps...i also wonnder if the update feature will inform you of a newer version?

#7.1 creamhackered on 18 Jun 2003 - 08:21

It depends what part of the world you're in, in some time zones this shall be on thursday which is originally why we posted thursday to cover our backs

#8 session™ on 18 Jun 2003 - 08:33

is that site down?

#9 Johnny_Mac on 18 Jun 2003 - 08:57

The download link wont be there til later tonight...

#10 fametown on 18 Jun 2003 - 10:12

This is the URL to download the file.... (you can see it in http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/Preview/default.aspx )

:

http://g.msn.com/7MEEN_US/PREVIEW/EN/SETUP.EXE

but... don't work now....

waiting ...

#11 Quick Reply on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:05

i hope that it's still neowin tab compatable and then don't cut features out that were found in the leak

edit: Just wait until everyone has a porno avatar

Last edited by 22902 on 19 Jun 2003 - 01:28

(3 replies) #12 DaNIsH on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:23

So umm, how many hours untill its release?
Im in australia, and those times look like gibberish to me.

#12.1 Jiles on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:43

East Coast Aus = GMT + 9

#12.2 stranger2 on 18 Jun 2003 - 11:43

It should be GMT +10 AEST so that'd be 4am wouldn't it

#12.3 DaNIsH on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:28

Ouch. Thanks

#13 Nickbee on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:05

moo

#14 Phoenix_25 on 18 Jun 2003 - 12:35

#15 ~Greeno~ on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:18

m33p

(1 reply) #16 AaronGamer on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:40

i can't wait!!!!

does anyone know what time that will be for EST?

Last edited by 18711 on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:54

#16.1 BobSmith on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:14

11am PST is 12pm MST is 1pm CST is 2pm EST. And for those in AZ, it's 11am IIRC.

#17 avifear on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:51

Beta was nice. I want the preview!

Thanks for the news.

(2 replies) #18 Greenstein on 18 Jun 2003 - 13:54

# 1.1
Is there a way to check if I have the MSI Installer update AFAIK?

Thanks.

#18.1 Nickbee on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:48

lol - "AFAIK" is the abbreviation for 'As Far As I Know'

As for the MSI Installer Update, http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=269732 has some info for Win2k, I assume its the same for all platforms (XP Already has it)

#18.2 Greenstein on 18 Jun 2003 - 18:07

System Requirements:

Computer/Processor: Multimedia PC w/233 MHz processor or faster (500 MHz recommended)

Disk Space: 18 MB available for installation – after install, up to 6 MB may be needed

Memory: 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended)

Browser: Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 5.01 or later must be installed on your computer, though it does not need to be your default browser.
Video Display: 256-color VGA or higher resolution graphics card (SVGA recommended). Minimum 800x600 screen resolution.

(2 replies) #19 CoLdFuSi0n on 18 Jun 2003 - 14:00

1 hour untill show time

#19.1 rseiler on 18 Jun 2003 - 14:26

Showtime?! Yeah, it's going to be radically different in an exactly-the-same kinda way than what you already have.

#19.2 Phoenix_25 on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:24

its 3 hours

(1 reply) #20 net-cruizer on 18 Jun 2003 - 14:31

It seems some people think that depending on the time zone they're in, that they will be downloading this very soon.
I could be wrong, but wouldn't it be relesed during official MS business hours?
I doubt it'll be available at the stroke of midnight in every time zone.
Right now, where I live, it's early wednesday morning, and the same time zone as Microsoft's headquarters in Washington.
So I would assume that I'll be waiting over 24 hours still. Not that it matters, lol.

#20.1 lwebster on 18 Jun 2003 - 14:49

Yeah - its just release at one time - not midnight everywhere or something stupid. Time differences people. Follow this link to see how many hours to go to launch!

http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/custom...&hour=18&min=00

(1 reply) #21 j2000wall on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:11

Why do microsoft keep doing this, they make a site available with all the links and fancy images but don't put the file in there, it's like officeint.mirosoft telling oyu to download the refresh when it's not there yet, and don't say I shouldn't be using int, they should just wait until everything is ready and then press on!!!! I'm fed up of micrososft messing around, and when is windows messenger 5 coming out?

By the way just so i know whats the release time in GMT?

#21.1 JaggedFlame on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:40

QUOTE

don't say I shouldn't be using int, they should just wait until everything is ready and then press on!!!!

Obviously, if it's only on the internal site, it's not ready.

Is it their fault someone exposes the link and forces noobs like you to think that it's ready? No, it's your fault for using the internal site instead of waiting for instructions like a beta tester should.

#22 AaronGamer on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:14

I just looked it will be 1:00pm EST check it out here http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

#23 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:27

so there is gonna be no difference at all with this public preview from the..
leaked beta version.?.

#24 ben_b on 18 Jun 2003 - 15:55

2 hours! Well I better go do some stuff that needs to be done now.

#25 tra on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:02

Íts 18:00 in amsterdam and the http://messenger.msn.com/download/v6preview.asp

site is not working

(2 replies) #26 net-cruizer on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:07

Ok, I must be missing something about the actual release date/time.
Doesn't explain much on the top of this page.
I have heard thursday is the day it's released, and I would assume it would be during Microsoft's business hours in their Washington headquarters.
Some people say they will be getting it in a couple hours, as of now, that would be Wednesday 11:00 AM Pacific Standard Time for me, which would be the same at Microsoft's headquarters in Washington. Right now for me, the time is 9 am PST.
So is that the right time of release... 11:00 AM PST? (Pacific Standard Time)

#26.1 creamhackered on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:49

PDT = PST+1HR

BST = GMT+1HR

#26.2 ricknl on 19 Jun 2003 - 10:24

Amsterdam time is not GMT+1 but GMT+2 due to summer time.

#27 Sim31 on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:20

Heres another link http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/exe/im6.zip but that doesnt work either

(2 replies) #28 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:36

so there is gonna be no difference at all with this public preview from the..
leaked beta version?!

#28.1 michaelward82 on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:51

Legality?

#28.2 Nickbee on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:51

I assume it'll be a higher build number, possibly one of the latest... but we shall see in a few hours

#29 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:57

thanks..

#30 Jasco on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:58

still nothing.. hmm.. one more hour? O_o

#31 riff on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:58

only ~1 hour left

#32 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:59

wait one more question i live in the (est) timezone...
some guy said it was to come out 1pm today..in the (est) time zone..
is this true.?.

#33 Aspect on 18 Jun 2003 - 16:59

I cant wait for this now , the tension is killing me

#34 Jasco on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:03

so.. its preview, that means the finished version will look 99% like this?

(1 reply) #35 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:05

okay im confused its 1:00pm (est)
and the link dosnt work when is this thinng really coming out (est) time..?

#35.1 creamhackered on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:08

1hrs time according to the press release

#36 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:16

cool thanks dude

#37 BeLGaRaTh on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:46

14mins to go now ...

(2 replies) #38 ben_b on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:51

5 - 10 min!

#38.1 ben_b on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:55

Within 5 min...

#38.2 ben_b on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:58

1 min and counting...

#39 Icepick4u on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:53

8 min and goooooooooooooooooooooooo

#40 imation2458 on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:54

6 mins

#41 aamir_mansoor on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:54

5 Min

(1 reply) #42 BuG on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:55

nearly here...... lets hope

after... how much time till a no ads patch ????

#42.1 Icepick4u on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:56

LOL

#43 Icepick4u on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:55

#44 imation2458 on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:56

THen there server crashes

#45 riff on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:56

#46 imation2458 on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:56

O GOsh...you all making it sounds like if were counting down till New year!

#47 Icepick4u on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:57

#48 aamir_mansoor on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:57

2 minutes and 40 seconds

#49 lilhaloshaka on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:57

its up i got it!!!

(2 replies) #50 Jolo on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:57

I bet my life to at 18:00 - 18:30 this page will give 404.

The same happened on the Windows Media 9 launch... Anyone remember?

#50.1 Icepick4u on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:58

u shure

#50.2 aamir_mansoor on 18 Jun 2003 - 17:59

BET FOR 500 USD

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