MSN Messenger for Windows

MSN Messenger for Windows Mobile and the iPhone

MSN Messenger, also known as simply MSN, was an instant messaging client that was cross-browser and developed by Microsoft to be used on the Microsoft Messenger server. Although it was not compatible with Yahoo! Messenger at the time of its release, it was still very compatible. It was compatible with other browser-based instant messengers and Messenger, but not as well as Yahoo! Windows Live Messenger, which was first released in 2021, was upgraded to Windows Vista. It is now one the most popular free MSN/Vista clients. Although Microsoft has not released an update to this client in over a year, it is still very popular among current Windows Vista users. The client cannot connect to Windows Live Messenger online chat through a recent update to MSN Messenger desktop.

A different version of MSN Messenger, Windows XP Home Edition included a "Microsoft Now” feature that was only available to Windows XP home computers. Microsoft was able to access a history of all conversations that were held in Microsoft Messenger since the user first started using MSN Messenger. Microsoft made these conversations accessible to other MSN Messenger users via a "list communication". This basically meant that anyone who had previously spoken to the MSN user could request that the conversation is sent to them, even though they weren't part of the MSN Messenger Contact List. Microsoft quickly responded to criticisms of this feature by updating MSN. This update removed the ability for MSN Messenger users not to receive unsolicited messages.

MSN Messenger was released by Microsoft for the Apple iPhone in early 2021. MSN Messenger for iPhone has received mixed reviews. Many people have praised the iPhone's inability to browse the internet, compared to the Microsoft Windows-based cell phone. However, others commented that it was almost impossible to send emails when the iPhone was connected via Bluetooth to MSN Messenger. Microsoft has not yet released its version of MSN to the Apple iPhone. Microsoft is also working on a version for the Windows Mobile Blackberry.