Microsoft's instant messaging service, once basically a toy for kids, has been redesigned as a business tool, and is being unveiled in 60 countries today.
The first of the company's new Windows Live series of applications, Live Messenger is leaving its original teen market behind. It now has such business-friendly features as free voice-over-Internet calls, improved voice and video capabilities, a unified contact list and the ability to share folders with contacts.
The Windows Live series, which Microsoft describes as "a new set of personal Internet services and software," represents the company's desire to "bring together ... all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web," Windows Live vice-president Martin Taylor said in a statement.
Windows Live Messenger is also integrated for Internet activities such as e-mail, blog, search and other services.
Among its features, Windows Live Messenger includes video call, a free audio and video service powered by Logitech International, which allows customers to talk in full-screen video; a new line of web cams made by Microsoft called LifeCams that are optimized for the software and offer one-touch video calling; a LifeCam Dashboard for camera controls and One-Touch Blogging for posting pictures to Windows Live Spaces.
A new feature is the ability to share files; users can drag and drop files from designated folders onto their own machines.
Contact information is integrated into Live Messenger, Live Mail and MSN Spaces, and will, also integrate with other Microsoft services, such as Live Search, Live Local, Live Mail and MSN Spaces, which Microsoft has said it would roll out soon.
Microsoft's MSN Messenger will be moving its 465 million unique users per month to the new product. It is downloadable for free from www.ideas.live.com.
