MSN ® Messenger Versions Available

MSN Messenger (not Windows Messenger) comes in two flavours, Windows and Mac, they also offer a Web Based Messenger for when you're not able to access/download messenger itself (see Web Based IM's for more sites that support web access to MSN Messenger).

Like most IM sites MSN Messenger detects your operating system and serves up the correct version based on what it knows your using, this is cool.. but also not so, expecially if you're after a previous version or your downloading for another operating system. Two sites to bookmark if you use multiple operating systems are http://messenger.msn.com/download/os.aspx which gives you access to all the Windows versions currently available for download (versions 5 through 7.5), and http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=msnmessenger for your Mac (versions 2.5 through 5).

MSN Web Messenger
http://webmessenger.msn.com/
Lets you talk to your MSN Messenger friends ONLY
You need to have an Microsoft® .NET Passport (if you have a Hotmail account you have a "Passport" so this isn't required in addition to),
don't have a passport? head to https://accountservices.passport.net/ppnetworkhome.srf
Features:
• Sign in options including "Appear Offline"
• Emoticons
• Email
System Requirements:
Windows
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 7.1 or later, or Mozilla 1.6 or later
• Popups enabled

Current Version for XP users...
Version: 7.5.0324  24 January 05
File: Install_MSN_Messenger.exe (if you select "download and install later")
Download Size: 8.92MB
Download: http://messenger.msn.com/xp/downloadDefault.aspx
System Requirments:
Pentium 233-MHz processor or better (500MHz recommended)
Microsoft Windows XP ONLY
Minimum 64MB of RAM (128MB recommended)
Up to 50MB of hard disk space needed to install — after install, up to 15MB may be needed
256-color VGA or higher resolution graphics card (SVGA recommended)
Minimum 800x600 screen resolution
Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 6 SP1 or later

Current Version for Win98-XP...
Version: 7.0.0816 1 July 2005
File: INSTALL_MSN_MESSENGER_DL.EXE
Download Size: 7193 KB
Download: http://messenger.msn.com/download/?dlos=1
System Requirments:
Pentium 233-MHz processor or better (500MHz recommended)
Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium, or Windows XP operating system
Minimum 64MB of RAM (128MB recommended)
Up to 50MB of hard disk space needed to install — after install, up to 15MB may be needed
256-color VGA or higher resolution graphics card (SVGA recommended)
Minimum 800x600 screen resolution
Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 6 SP1 or later

Previous Windows versions still available...

MSN Messenger 6.2 for Windows
Version: 6.2.0208 13 April 2005
File Name: Setup.exe
Download Size: 5123 KB - 40907 KB
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/~en
Download Security Update for MSN Messenger 6.1 or 6.2 (KB890261)
System Requirements:
Windows 98, 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2K, Windows XP Home & Pro (incl 64-bit, Embedded, Media Center, Tablet PC)
Multimedia PC with 233MHz processor or faster (500MHz recommended)
Minimum 64MB of RAM (128MB recommended)
Up to 50MB of hard disk space
256-color VGA or higher resolution graphics card (SVGA recommended)
Minimum 800x600 screen resolution
Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 5.01 or later

MSN Messenger 5.0 for Windows 95
Version: 5.0 14 August 2003
File Name: Setup95.exe
Download Size: 3989 KB
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/~en
System Requirements:
Windows 95
Computer/Processor: 486DX/66 or higher
10 MB disk space available for installation
8 MB RAM
Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 5.01 or later

Current Version for Mac...
Microsoft Messenger for Mac 5.1.1 (Mac OS 10.3 or higher) 28 March 2006
File: Messenger511.dmg
Download Size: 6.74mb
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads ~ /messenger511_download.xml
System Requirments:
Processor: Mac OS X-compatible processor that is a model G3 or higher.
Operating system: Mac OS X version 10.3 or later.
Network access: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 (corporate accounts only)
Memory: 128 MB of RAM.
Hard disk: 20 MB of hard disk space.
Display: 1024 x 768 or higher resolution displaying thousands of colors.
Internet access: Required. Internet access might require you to pay a separate fee to a service provider; local and long-distance telephone charges might apply.
"Messenger for Mac 5.0 makes it easy to take advantage of the full power of instant messaging. Messenger for Mac offers two types of communication services- a personal account and a corporate account. A personal account works with the MSN® Messenger service on the Microsoft Passport Network. Contacts that you add to your personal account will include friends and family members. A corporate account uses the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server service and can include contacts who use other instant messaging services, such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo Messenger, and iChat users who are signed in with AOL accounts."

Previous Mac versions still available...

MSN Messenger for Mac Version 4.0.1 (Mac OS 10.2.8 or higher) 12 October 2004
File: Messenger401.dmg.bin
Download Size: 4169kb
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/~msn_401.xml
System Requirments:
Processor: Power Mac G3, G4 or G4 Cube, G5; iMac; PowerBook G3 or G4; iBook; or eMac computer.
Operating system: Mac OS X version 10.2.8 or later (10.3.3 recommended)
Memory: 128 MB of RAM.
Hard disk: 12 MB of available hard disk space.
Programs: Internet browser required, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer for Mac or Safari.
Modem: 28.8 Kbps or higher.
Internet access: Internet connection through either an Internet service provider (ISP) or a network. Internet access might require a fee to an ISP; local or long-distance telephone charges might also apply.
" MSN® Messenger version 4.0.1 for Mac makes it easy to take advantage of the full power of instant messaging. By using MSN Messenger, you can see when your friends, family, and coworkers are online and then communicate with them instantly. MSN Messenger can also notify you when new messages arrive in your MSN Hotmail® Inbox, if you have a Hotmail account, and provide the latest news and headlines from MSN. And perhaps best of all, it's free!
Note: MSN Messenger version 4.0.1 for Mac is mandatory to ensure that all software accessing the service is using the most robust and current version available."

MSN Messenger for Mac Version 3.5 (Mac OS 10.1.3 through 10.2.7) 17 July 2003
File: macmsgs.bin
Download Size: 3302kb
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/~msn_messenger3.xml
System Requirments:
Processor: Macintosh PowerPC.
Operating system: Mac OS X version 10.1.3 or later.
Memory: 128 MB of RAM.
Hard disk: 8 MB of available hard disk space.
Programs: Internet browser required, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer for Mac or Safari.
Modem: 28.8 Kbps or higher.
Internet access: Internet connection through either an Internet service provider (ISP) or a network. Internet access might require a fee to an ISP; local or long-distance telephone charges might also apply.
"MSN® Messenger for Mac version 3.5 makes it easy to take advantage of the full power of instant messaging. By using MSN Messenger, you can see when your friends, family, and co-workers are online and then communicate with them instantly. MSN Messenger can also notify you when new messages arrive in your MSN® Hotmail® Inbox, if you have a Hotmail account, and provide the latest news and headlines from MSN. And perhaps best of all, it's free!"