Microsoft's updated IM client reflects the company's rebranding of its many free tools with the Windows Live label. The new MSN Messenger is now called Windows Live Messenger. While largely the same as its predecessor, Windows Live Messenger is unique for allowing you to share folders and files locally with fellow users. It also serves up the usual animated emoticons, winks, and buzzes, along with multiplayer gaming, free PC-to-PC calling, mobile phone messaging, and video chatting. Plus it adds VoIP capabilities that allow you to call telephones around the world for a fee. One major omission, though, is the ability to receive inbound calls from landlines or mobile phones, a service that Yahoo Messenger with Voice offers. Overall, we recommend Windows Live Messenger's video chat over other IM tools'. You can access this app at get.live.com/messenger/overview.
This 14MB download took just a few minutes in our tests, though we had to proceed with care to prevent Windows Live Messenger from installing unwanted items, such as a desktop shortcut or Rhapsody music software. Once installed, Windows Live Messenger displays a drop-down menu of features along the top, contacts within the centre pane, a search box on the bottom, and tabs for eBay, Rhapsody, and other services along the left. Microsoft fans will like the integration with MSN Spaces and the company's other properties. However, we wish we could hide the animated panel of ads at the bottom.
The chat window is customisable, so you can pick a colour scheme or choose from themes and paid avatars, most of which cater to kids and tweens. If you don't need the graphics bells and whistles of this tool and those of the similar Yahoo Messenger with Voice or AIM, we recommend the bare-bones Google Talk.
We like Windows Live Messenger's Sharing Folders feature, which sets it apart from competitors by allowing you to transfer files to and from your buddy's computer by displaying a mirror of each others' files on your desktops. With security precautions in mind, Microsoft includes a free file scanner to check Sharing Folders for viruses and other potential threats. You can drag and drop all kinds of files into the chat window, which synchronises with the mirror window viewed by your buddy, and view a log of activity. Another welcome change is Windows Live Messenger's ability to store up to 600 contacts, integrated with those from your Windows Live Mail beta account. Windows Live Contacts will notify you when a contact updates his or her details.
With a Webcam installed, you can make video chats with a full 640x480-pixel screen. You can use any Webcam or pick a Microsoft LifeCam with controls tailored to Windows Live Messenger. We found the image quality to be better than that of other IM clients, though we still suffered an image and audio lag of a second or two. With a headset you can talk to Windows Live Messenger buddies via voice for free. If you plan to rely on Messenger as a Net phone, you can also buy a compatible headset to sign in and out without using your PC. However, the inability to accept inbound calls limits Windows Live's usefulness.
Microsoft provides FAQs and a searchable and detailed online knowledge base. You can ask additional questions via a Web-based e-mail form.
Although Yahoo Messenger with Voice and other VoIP tools offer more options for phone service, only Windows Live Messenger sets up a secure environment for sharing and synchronising all kinds of files. While Messenger may not serve as the ultimate communications hub, it's a solid, fun multimedia chatting tool and an improvement over the earlier version.
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