Click to Save up to $300/yr on calls
Features
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License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
-
Downloads:
15,135,945
- Requirements:
Windows XP SP2/Vista
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
September 19, 2008
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Previous Versions:
Publisher's description of Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger includes support for the im Initiative! Every time you start a conversation using im, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. So any time you have an im conversation using Windows Live Messenger, you help address the issues you feel most passionate about. It's simple. All you have to do is join and start an instant messaging conversation.
Key Features: Call your friends' PC (free), mobile or landline phones. Calls require a microphone and speakers or a headset and broadband connection. Make calls for less than $.02 a minute to most places around the world with Verizon Web Calling. Start a video conversation within minutes with a webcam. Drop in photos and other stuff for friends in a Sharing Folder, as many as your computer can handle. With Windows Live Messenger you can now connect with your Yahoo! IM contacts.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- IM,
- MSN,
- Microsoft Internet Explorer,
- Microsoft Windows Live,
- Microsoft Windows Live Messenger
Editor's review of Windows Live Messenger
4.0 stars
- "Messenger goes Live"
This program improves on its predecessor, MSN Messenger, with the ability to share folders and files locally with fellow users. Windows Live Messenger also serves up the standard emoticons, multiplayer-only gaming, free PC-to-PC calling, mobile phone messaging, and video chatting in a full 640x480-pixel screen. VoIP capabilities allow you to call telephones around the world for a fee, although you can't receive inbound calls from landlines or cell phones.
During the quick installation, Windows Live Messenger offers optional shortcuts, a sign-in assistant, and Rhapsody music software, as well as the ability to change your Internet Explorer home page to MSN. You can store up to 600 contacts, integrated with your Windows Live Mail account. We found the integration a bit heavy-handed, especially when links opened in IE rather than our default browser. Also, like most dedicated chat clients, the program is a memory hog.
The Sharing Folders feature lets you and your buddy transfer files by displaying a mirror of each others' files. You can drag and drop files into the chat window or Sharing Folder. Microsoft includes a free scanner for checking files for viruses, but it didn't recognize our Symantec AntiVirus. It's unclear whether the shared files are stored on both computers or on Microsoft servers, but you can access the files offline. We wish help were offline, too, especially since the online help is so general. While Windows Live Messenger isn't yet the ultimate communications hub, it's a solid, fun, multimedia chatting tool.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 342 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 25 user reviewsSee all 25 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018
Pros: Good to chat with friend's, family, play games, transfer files, open your e-mail, send an e-mail, go to Windows Live Today, assist with remote help for this messenger, and much more.
Cons: Download time is slow.
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018
Pros: help me to contact with my freind
Cons: defficult dowenlod
Summary: no commment
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018
Pros: file transfers are easy
Cons: wants to start with windows and run in the background all the time
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018
Pros: ououououououo
Cons: ouououououou
Summary: ouououou
marine aime un gars (ll)
Updated on Dec 19, 2008 -
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018
Pros: I'm always on WLM, whether I'm at school or not even at the computer. I love how everything flows and how awesome everything was put together. Some bright minds and some sharp thinking were put into the making of this program.
Cons: I seriously can't really think of anything...
Summary: I would recommend this to anyone who wants some sort of an instant messaging, reconnecting (or just plain connecting), contact in large businesses, and fun and entertaining chat program. One other thing I might like to add, is if you want the WHOLE... read more >>
- See all 25 user reviews Write review
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