- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP
- Date added: September 02, 2009
- Total Downloads: 17,534,693
- Downloads last week: 67,735
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 474 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Watch the CNET video review of Windows Live Messenger:
Publisher's description
From Microsoft :Windows Live Messenger includes support for the im Initiative! Every time you start a conversation using im, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. So any time you have an im conversation using Windows Live Messenger, you help address the issues you feel most passionate about. It's simple. All you have to do is join and start an instant messaging conversation.
Key Features: Call your friends' PC (free), mobile or landline phones. Calls require a microphone and speakers or a headset and broadband connection. Make calls for less than $.02 a minute to most places around the world with Verizon Web Calling. Start a video conversation within minutes with a webcam. Drop in photos and other stuff for friends in a Sharing Folder, as many as your computer can handle. With Windows Live Messenger you can now connect with your Yahoo! IM contacts.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 474 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 62 user reviewsSee all 62 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.0726
Pros: GOOD FOR GETTING IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS VIA, CHAT AND E-MAIL
Cons: NOTHING SO FAR. COMMENT LATER
Summary: JUST SO EASY TO USE
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Version: Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.0726
"Nice looking with several problems"
Pros: Some more configuration options. Great skins available online.
Cons: It's quite the same as older versions, I expected it to be a completely different and improved version. Winks and Nudge are missing, I have installed it two times and there's no winks at all. Also it kept that bothering ads section.
Summary: By itself, it doesn't worth too much. What really gives a great performance to its functionality and looks are the tweaks one can find online for this version. Unfortunately, in my case, the winks are missing and still haven't found out how to ins... read more >>
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Version: Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.0726
"Doesn't work on Windows XP 64-bit version"
Pros: seems like it doesn't work on Win XP 64-bit version...anybody have this experience? how do I go about solving this problem? Works on my Windows 7...good program.
Cons: seems like it doesn't work on Win XP 64-bit version...anybody have this experience? how do I go about solving this problem? Works on my Windows 7...good program.
Summary: seems like it doesn't work on Win XP 64-bit version...anybody have this experience? how do I go about solving this problem? Works on my Windows 7...good program.
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Version: Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.0726
Pros: The interface is easy to use. It does quite a few things in addition to sending text, including games and voice. There are no real downfalls.
Cons: No major problems
Summary: Well-rounded IM.
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Version: Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.0726
"No auto log-in and takes a lot of space"
Pros: I like the backgrounds, the nudges and winks which make it fun
Cons: I will not log me in automatically irrespective of the number of times I have uninstalled, reinstalled and clicked the remember me buttons etc plus the options in the Tools menu. It has also slowed my machine.
Summary: I t hink I have said it all in "Cons"
- See all 62 user reviews Write review
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