An Early Look at Microsoft Windows Live, Part 1 It's a New and Improved Messenger Wayne Kawamoto
It's the Message
Windows Live Messenger is Microsoft's new and improved replacement for MSN Messenger. Like its predecessor, the program offers chat functions so you can converse with friends and contacts via text and video, but the Windows Live edition adds voice to the mix, as well as a new and innovative way to share documents and files.
Like MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger makes it possible for you to conduct real-time text conversations and to use customizable fonts, emoticons, animated winks, a white board, and more. If you currently use Hotmail, your contact list is available through Messenger, which supports up to some 600 contacts.
Powerful new options for voice conversations allow you to make free PC-to-PC calls with other Messenger users, or call friends via their mobile or land-line telephones if you sign-up with the Verizon Web Calling service. The service allows you to use your PC as a phone by clicking on a "handset" icon that resides in the program.
In this program, however, you can't receive inbound calls from landlines or cell phones — something that competitor Yahoo offers. Despite this, voice is a first-rate and welcome addition to the chat mix.
A concept called "Sharing Folders" offers a new way to share digital photos and other documents with Messenger contacts. You create a Sharing Folder by dragging files onto a Messenger contact name, which creates a Sharing Folder on both your own and your contact's computers. Each folder holds exact copies of the same files. Any time you add, modify or delete a file in a Sharing Folder, the change is also made in your contact's corresponding Sharing Folder.
This innovative concept is a lot easier than using e-mail to share files. And even if you're offline, you can still access and use Sharing Folders that reside on your desktop. Microsoft has even taken the step of scanning Sharing Folders for viruses and other threats.
Video conversations have been improved as well, with live, full-screen video (640x480) that serves synchronized audio. Of course, you and your contacts will need compatible Web cameras, microphones, and speakers (or headphones) to use this feature.
To run Windows Live Messenger, you must have Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 SP1 or later installed on your computer.
Next week, we'll take a look at three additional services in the Windows Live line-up: Windows Live Toolbar, Windows Live Safety Center, and Windows Live Favorites. Until next time, happy computing.
