The MSN Messenger Service is Microsoft's answer to the ever-popular ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger clients. While many of its competitors have heaped feature upon feature in an attempt to be all things to all people, Microsoft has chosen to take a more streamlined, leaner approach to the MSN Messenger.
MSN Messenger is a client for exchanging instant messages with friends and acquaintances. That used to be all it could do. With the introduction of version 7 and 7.5, Microsoft has added several new features that bring it up to the level of AIM and ICQ.
- Create Groups with Messenger, something you used to not be able to do.
- MSN Messenger now offers the Microsoft search engine within Messenger.
- Messenger has full-screen video with audio/video synchronization.
- You can now talk (instead of type) in real time or send voice clips.
- You can share files and images with your friends.
- Status options (Online, Offline, Busy, Be Right Back, Away,etc)
- Build two lists, My Allow List and My Block List
MSN Messenger has grown up, and it works well. My wife uses it to keep in touch with her relatives and it saves us a LOT in long distance phone bills. To learn more about its capabilities, visit the
MSN Messenger Homepage.