This year has been a busy year for MSN, taking on Google with new products and services; the recently launched Wave 10 has so far proved reasonably successful. So what's new for Wave 11?
Expect continued development and fine tuning on the recently launched MSN Search, something that will be prominent in the company's mind in 2005. With fierce competition in a market it has far from dominated, a lot of effort will be going into not just the online search but the desktop search tool (download the beta). One of the key elements to each of these programs that MSN have been pushing all this year (and will continue in 2005) is the idea of synergies – interactions between all of the MSN products, and between people using the MSN products. Hotmail is a key hub for most of the MSN products, and will see an overhaul behind the scenes as well as a brand new look, culminating in a new version around July of 2005.
MSN will continue development of MSN Messenger with an expected release of the client currently in beta (download and test) in February 2005, depending on beta feedback. For MSN Messenger, rumoured new features include status by groups, a concept called "multiple points of presence" – i.e. being signed onto the same account on a mobile device and the desktop – and personalized status messages ala MSG Plus. Also likely is improved voice communication functionality, further integration with ever popular mobile devices (SMS from MSN Messenger is speculated) and improvements in sharing personal content like photos (think Hello). A beta of the new client can be expected in June / July time, with a desired launch date 1st September 2005. All in all, a lot of work will go into MSN Messenger in 2005 with many new features being added; 2005, without doubt, will be an exciting year for the product.
Unfortunately, the MSN group have not got plans for another major revision of the Premium Client for Wave 11. MSN will continue to update the client to ensure compatibility but there are no major changes planned. Wave 11 will prove a massive update for all of the programs Microsoft offer via MSN, so stay tuned at Neowin for complete coverage.
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