Windows Messenger

For the newer client that has superseded Windows Messenger, see Windows Live Messenger.

Windows Messenger A component of Microsoft Windows
A conversation in Windows Messenger 4.7.2009, with sidebar and toolbar enabled
Details
Included with	Windows XP
Also available for	Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003
Replaces	N/A
Replaced by	Windows Live Messenger
Related components
Outlook Express

Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger. After its initial release in 2001, it was later upgraded in 2004, when it was made available for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.

Since then, development on Windows Messenger has stopped, with the exception of security updates. It has been superseded by Microsoft's similarly named but separate and newer client, Windows Live Messenger, for connections to the .NET Messenger Service, and by Office Communicator in corporate environments.

The client is not related to the Windows NT Messenger service, which was designed for local area networks.

Overview

Windows Messenger was introduced with the release of Windows XP in October 2001, and it is installed and enabled by default. It has a variety of features, such as instant messaging, presence awareness, support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), file transfer, application sharing and whiteboarding. Later versions added "ink" support and integration with Office Communications Server. These features are also exposed for applications to be used through a COM API called the Real Time Communications (RTC) Client API.

The Windows Messenger user interface was devoid of a lot of the clutter seen in its consumer-focused counterparts, MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. Winks, nudges, and custom emoticons are all unsupported, and the main user interface is more closely based on the standard Windows XP Luna style.

The software integrates with Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and the Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP. Windows Messenger also integrates with Media Center in Windows XP Media Center Edition. Windows Messenger can communicate with the Exchange Server 2000 Instant Messaging Service and the .NET Messenger Service.

Development of Windows Messenger was halted after version 5.1 in favor of Windows Live Messenger and Microsoft Lync. Plug-ins for Windows Messenger, such as accessing the inbox of a Hotmail account, are no longer available; users are instead encouraged to download Windows Live Messenger or Office Communicator, depending on their needs.

History

Windows Messenger 4.x

• Version 4.0 (Initial release, bundled with Windows XP)
  • Immediately upon the release of Windows XP, Windows Messenger was upgraded to version 4.5.^{[citation needed]}
• Version 4.5 (October 2001)^{[citation needed]}
• Version 4.6^{[citation needed]}
• Version 4.7^{[citation needed]}

Windows Messenger 5.x

• Version 5.0
• Version 5.1.0639 (release date: December 1, 2004)^[1]
• Version 5.1.0639 (re-release date: March 24, 2005)^[1]
• Version 5.1.0680 (release date: May 13, 2005)^[1]
• Version 5.1.0700 (release date: September 16, 2005)^[1]
• Version 5.1.0706 (release date: June 4, 2007)^[1]
• Version 5.1.0715 (release date: August 12, 2008) ^[1]
• Prevent Windows Messenger from running on a Windows XP-based computer^{[dated info]}
• Windows Messenger vs MSN Messenger: What’s the Difference?

See also

Microsoft portal

• Comparison of instant messaging clients
• Comparison of instant messaging protocols

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "How to obtain the latest version of Windows Messenger 5.1". Microsoft Help and Support. Microsoft Corporation. 12 August 2008. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899283. Retrieved 23 April 2009.  Article ID: 899283. Revision: 4.0