Windows Live Messenger Beta
Microsoft has finally launched the public beta of the next major overhaul to their instant messenger application MSN Messenger. The application is now called Windows Live Messenger though little except for the interface has changed and a few new features have been added.
The company has also collaborated with companies like Uniden and Royal Philips Electronics who would be selling cordless phones that work with the service. This would enable the consumers to use the capabilities of the Windows Live Messenger with a cordless phone to make calls.
Microsoft is also working with Verizon Internet telephony service to provide a PC-to-phone feature. The service now works with numbers in countries like Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. The application now also builds a unified contact list that draws on information from other applications.
This application would take on the AOL’s recently announced AIM Phoneline Unlimited and Yahoo’s under development next update to their Yahoo! Messenger. We are yet to see what Google does with their Google Talk.