Quick
Specification
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Size |
1.09MB |
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Platform: |
Windows Vista, Windows XP |
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License: |
Free |
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Category: |
Communications Chat |
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DOWNLOAD
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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