Why two versions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom B
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom B

Can someone explain to me why we have MSN Messenger and
also Windows Messenger with apparently the same GUI and
login?

Thanks,

Tom
 
Greetings Tom,

Actually they're not the same GUI and don't support the same things.

MSN Messenger 6 has support for display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different
interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger supports SIP-based communications services,
Exchange IM Server, etc. Which one you use is up to you, and a matter of personal choice
(and based upon your needs and likes), however one thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger
must still be installed on Windows XP in order for MSN Messenger to retain full functionality
(Remote Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies (Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
-----Original Message-----
Greetings Tom,

Actually they're not the same GUI and don't support the same things.

MSN Messenger 6 has support for display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different
interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger supports SIP- based communications services,
Exchange IM Server, etc. Which one you use is up to
Click to expand...
you, and a matter of personal choice
(and based upon your needs and likes), however one thing
Click to expand...
to keep in mind, Windows Messenger
must still be installed on Windows XP in order for MSN
Click to expand...
Messenger to retain full functionality
(Remote Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies
Click to expand...
(Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around
Click to expand...
Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft
Click to expand...
technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com




.
Ok, maybe they are not the same but it looks to me as if
Click to expand...
someone spent a lot of time making them look the same. I
mean, they are both from Microsoft and both named
Messenger. How much more confusing could it have been?
It's plenty confusing for those of us who are already
challenged in these areas.

But, thanks for the reply,

Tom
 
Hi Tom,

Actually, they just only split off into two versions as of MSN Messenger 5 and Windows
Messenger 4.7 -- as such, they haven't really been separate applications for all that long,
hence they're similarities.

It's really no more confusing then Outlook and Outlook Express, both having *some* of the
same capabilities, but still different.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
Actually I bitched about this very subject a long time ago.

Your analogy is flawed, Jonathan. At least when it comes to Outlook and
Outlook Express MS isn't cutting features out of Outlook express and placing
them in Outlook. And I don't have to have Outlook Express installed in order
to make Outlook have all of it's features available. (or vise versa)

MS claims that Windows Messenger is more for the "business user" and MSN
Messenger is more for the "Home user" (hasn't anyone told them that line is
quite blurred now days?) fair enough.

Let's, for a moment, assume this statement is 100% true. If we are to make
this assumption then why, for instance, did MS remove the ability to have
text messages sent to your cell phone? Wouldn't this feature be a hot item
for the, so called, "business user".

MVP's and MS staffers, are the only people who think this strategy, whatever
it is, is a logical one. And these people will have little, if any, chance
convincing the rest of the world that it "makes perfect sense".


Regards
Brian W
 
Back
Top