MSN® Messenger

MSN Messenger supports Windows, Microsoft Messenger shakes hands with Mac and MSN® Messenger Web Messenger is for users who are unable to download the full blown messenger, either because of circumstance or location. While MSN Messenger is not my favourite (through no fault of it's own) it has some great features like PC-to-PC Calling, File and Photo sharing, Games, Emoticons (including support for custom smileys), Handwriting, Theme Packs, Display Pictures, Alerts, Winks, Nudges, Voice (and Voice Clips), Mobile Phone Text Messaging... on and on it goes and unlike other Messenger companies MSN Messenger seems to embrace 3rd party utilities and add-ons which means as a MSN user the possibilities are just about endless.

Some MSN Messenger related sites worthy of bookmarking are MSN Messenger Help which is an extensive online resource covering just about every MSN Messenger related question or problem you maybe faced with, for the questions / issues you have that are not covered there then head directly to the Discussions in MSN Messenger Newsgroup, if you're lucky enough to bump into Jonathan Kay while you're there then count you're lucky stars because if it's worth knowing then he knows it :) If you get reeeeally stuck with MSN Messenger then you'll find an email support form is available at http://support.msn.com or if you think the MSN network has completely lost it's wheels then swing by the .NET Messenger Service Status page.. speaking of must have bookmarks....

There are two (external) sites worthy of a mention....
Mess with MSN Messenger (http://mess.be/) is the "be all and end all" with regard to what's hot, what's not and what's available when it comes to MSN Messenger utilities, add-on's, display pictures, names, emoticons etc and it's packed full of tip & tricks, in fact you can spend hours and hours poking around their site and still not have made a dent in what's on offer. Well worth bookmarking and sharing with your MSN Messenger buddies :)
Messenger Plus by Patchou (http://www.msgplus.net/) is the "must have" MSN Messenger utility. If you want to tweak MSN Messenger, improve it's function or get quirky then Messenger Plus is bound to have exactly what you're looking for in it's extensive range of features.

Worthy of a mention is Microsoft's Passport service.... you need to have a Microsoft Passport to use MSN Messenger , if you already have an exisiting MSN or Hotmail account then you already have a Passport but if you don't have, or don't wish to use that account for your MSN Messenger login then you can register an alternate email address e.g it could be your ISP email addy, Gmail or even your Yahoo! Mail one ;) A couple of points worth noting... 1. you need to be 18yrs old to register for an Microsoft Passport (see Microsoft Passport Network Terms of Use specifically 1. This Is a Contract Between You and Microsoft.), considering you have to Passport to use MSN Messenger, then the assumption is that you should also be 18yrs old to be using MSN Messenger.
2. If you use a MSN email or Hotmail account for accessing MSN Messenger and it remains inactive for 120 days your account information will be deleted, yet if you used an email address not MSN/Hotmail related then you have 365 days before your information is removed. (see Microsoft Passport Network Privacy Statement specifically "Managing your personal information")

MSN® Messenger Versions:
MSN® Messenger for Windows 7.5.0324 (Windows XP)
Homepage http://messenger.msn.com
released  24 Janurary 06 http://messenger.msn.com/xp/downloadDefault.aspx

Microsoft Messenger® for Mac 5.1.1 (Mac OS 10.3 or higher)
Homepage http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=msnmessenger
released 28 March 2006 http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ ~ /messenger511_download.xml

MSN® Messenger Web Messenger http://webmessenger.msn.com/
for more detailed information about current (and available) versions please check out our MSN Messenger Versions Available

MSN® MessengerGeneral Links:
MSN Messenger Homepage ~ http://messenger.msn.com/
Upgrades ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Upgrades.aspx
Getting Started ~ http://messenger.msn.com/download/getstarted.aspx
Fun & Games ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Resource/
Features ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Feature/default.aspx
Learn More ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Help/LearnMore.aspx
Personalise ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Feature/Personalize.aspx
MSN Messenger Help / FAQ (basic) ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Help/
MSN Messenger Help (detailed) ~ http://help.msn.com/
Discussions in MSN Messenger Newsgroup: http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/~US
Support ~ http://support.msn.com/
Service Status ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Status.aspx
Microsoft Messenger for Mac Homepage ~ http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=msnmessenger
MSN® Developer Center ~ http://msdn.microsoft.com/msn/msnmessenger/

Microsoft® Passport Network Links:
Microsoft Passport Network ~ https://accountservices.passport.net/
Register ~ https://accountservices.passport.net/reg.srf
Reset your Password ~ https://login.passport.com/resetpw.srf
Privacy Statement ~ https://accountservices.passport.net/PPPrivacyStatement.srf
Terms of Use ~ https://accountservices.passport.net/PPTOU.srf

MSN® Messenger Legal Speak:
MSN Privacy Notice ~ http://privacy.msn.com/
.NET Messenger Terms of Use, Licenses, and Notices ~ http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Terms.aspx

External MSN® Messenger Related Links:
How to use MSN Messenger: http://www.imagine-msn.com/Messenger/Post/Default.aspx
I love Messenger: http://ilovemessenger.msn.com/
jonathankay http://messenger.jonathankay.com/