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MSN Messenger is an instant messaging client for Windows and Mac OS computers (officially, but can be run on virtually any computer with an Internet connection, see Third-party clients ), aimed mainly at home users. The business oriented client, which also uses Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service is called Windows Messenger. Users require a Microsoft Passport to connect to the service. The major use of the software is for instant messaging. Messages can be enlivened with graphical emoticons.
Other features which now come as standard include voice conversations, support for webcams, transferring files and built in multi-user games such as patience.
Version 6 emphasized the ability to customise the software, with personalised backgrounds, emoticons and display pictures. There is also a large community of third-party developers who have created addons to extend the capabilities of the program. The most recent version, as of 2004, is version 6.2.
In August 2004 MSN introduced a browser-based version of the MSN Messenger client which can be used on any computer that can access the internet.
1 Games
- Solitaire Showdown
- MSN Messenger 6 contains this game (in the Launch Site menu), based on the original Solitaire in Windows. It is online, 2 player, and features 2 decks. Each player must race to put their cards on the shared pile (e.g. putting an ace of any suit on the pile, but putting 2's of a suit may only be possible after the ace of the suit is currently on the pile, not covered by any other cards).
- Checkers
- A standard two-player game of checkers.
- Bejeweled
- A two-player game where pairs of jewels on a playfield are switched to arrange three or more in a line of the same colour therefore removing them from the game. It is played in real time and individually, with scores being compared at the end.
- Minesweeper Flags
- In a twist on the original game, players must now locate mines and whoever has found the most by the end wins. If you find a mine you get to continue, otherwise it becomes your opponent's turn. Players get the one-off option to "bomb" a 5x5 area, and get all the mines in that area.
2 Protocol
The MSN Messenger Protocol ( MSNP ) is a simple protocol over TCP (and optionally over HTTP to deal with proxies). Its current version is 10 (MSNP10), used by MSN Messenger version 6.2 and many other third-party clients. The protocol is not completely secret: Microsoft disclosed version 7 (MSNP7) to developers in 1999, but never released versions 8, 9 and 10 to public, and MSN servers only accept protocol versions from 8 and on, so the syntax of new commands from versions 8, 9 and 10 is only known by using sniffers like Ethereal
3 See also
- Comparison of instant messengersThe following tables compare general and technical information for a number of instant messenger programs and protocols used for communication between one or more people. Please see the individual products articles for further information. Clients 1 Plug-
4 External links
4.1 Add-ons (Windows)
