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

Dom · May 11, 2003, 10:04 PM

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.

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.

Screenshot: View MSN Messenger 6.0 confirmation
View: View Windows Messenger 5 kicks off

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Source: Neowin

May 11, 2003, 10:04 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Windows or MSN Messenger, which one is it going to be? 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. 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. Screenshot: View MSN Messenger 6.0 confirmation View: View Windows Messenger 5 kicks off -------------------- Source: Neowin