Windows Live Messenger

Microsoft's home-based messaging program appeared in 1999 and until 2006 was known as "MSN Messenger." In 2006, an updated version of the program called Windows Live Messenger was released. In 2013, support for the program was discontinued by merging with Skype .

MSN Messenger (1999-2006)

The first version of the MSN Messenger service was released on July 22, 1999 under the name MSN Messenger Service, only the most basic functions were available in it - forwarding text messages and a simple contact list. ^[4] Initially, the program had access to the AOL AIM network, but AOL constantly tried to disconnect the Microsoft program from the service. AIM support was soon removed from MSN Messenger and did not appear in later versions. ^[5] In particular, to identify genuine AOL server clients, an erroneously formed message was sent at one time, which exploited the vulnerability in the AIM client itself and launched the sent machine code fragment ( exploit ). This code determined the authenticity of the client and allowed to continue working with AOL servers. ^[6] Thus, MSN Messenger allowed only a Microsoft server user to communicate, requiring a Windows Live ID account (originally called ".NET Passport") for authorization.

In November 1999, version 2.0 was released, in which an advertising banner was added. This version was available for Windows Me as an option during installation. On May 29, 2000, version 3.0 was released in which file transfers and audio calls (computer-to-computer and computer-to-phone) appeared via the Net2Phone provider, one of the first VOIP services. ^[7]

In October 2001, simultaneously with the release of Windows XP , the version of MSN Messenger 4.6 was introduced. She has changed the interface, added contact grouping and voice conversations. ^[8] In this version, the name is changed from "MSN Messenger Service" to "MSN Messenger". The internal service became known as the " .NET Messenger Service ." Version 4.6 was only compatible with Windows 95 , 98 , Windows ME , NT 4.0, and Windows 2000 . Windows XP included a simplified program called Windows Messenger (version 4.0.0155), which originally planned to replace MSN Messenger in Windows XP.

In October 2002, MSN Messenger 5.0 was released, and it was able to install on Windows XP (simultaneously with Windows Messenger). ^[9] In version 5.0, file exchanges with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology for NAT bypass and a plug-in for the Windows Media Player interface appeared. ^[10]

In July 2003, MSN Messenger 6.0 was released, significantly updating the platform. Instead of plain text, a text forwarding appeared with design, for example, with emoticons, avatars, and background selection. Version 6.1 introduced color schemes. The last update of the 6th line was version 6.2 (April 22, 2004) in which the Mobile group appeared for contacts from mobile phones, and the Launch Site was renamed Fun & Games .

In August 2004, Microsoft released a web version of MSN Messenger that could be used without installing software on a computer. The features of the version were limited only by sending text messages. It was also possible to use MSN on mobile phones and other portable devices.

On April 7, 2005, MSN Messenger 7.0 was released, which included animated wink files (previously available in the Microsoft experimental protocol threedegrees ). In the program there were sales of images: animated, emoticons, background. Also included is integration with Xbox Live and handwriting recognition.

The latest version of MSN Messenger before renaming was version 7.5 (August 23, 2005). Dynamic background images and a protocol handler "msnim" appeared in it (web pages can indicate contact information with it). There was a transfer of audio fragments up to 15 seconds ("Voice Clips").

MSN Messenger used the Microsoft Notification Protocol (MSNP) either directly through TCP or through HTTP (to pass through a proxy server). The service was available on the 1863 port of the messenger.hotmail.com site. The latest version 7.5 of MSN Messenger used the MSNP12 protocol.

Since September 11, 2007, Microsoft has forcibly migrated MSN Messenger users to Windows Live Messenger 8.1 due to security concerns. ^[eleven]

Windows Live Messenger (2006-2013)

• Version 8.0 was released on June 19, 2006 ^{[1] [12]} after three beta versions, the first of which was published on December 13, 2005 . In this version, offline messages were introduced, window color schemes were introduced, Windows Live Contacts were introduced, single file transfers appeared, calls from a computer to a phone appeared, message grouping by contacts was introduced, the service was integrated in the USA] ^[13] . The update to 8.0 was released on August 10, 2006 , ^[1] it improved the operation of video and audio, and also fixed some errors. ^[fourteen]

• Version 8.1 was released in late 2006 - early 2007. ^{[1] [15] [16]}

• Version 8.5 came out with an updated design in a style similar to other Windows Live 2008 applications.
• Version 2009 (14.0, originally designated 9.0) is an interface update in the style of Windows 7 . Windows Live Call from this version is installed as an application. Also removed features such as the ability to send files to offline users, some statuses, the option of "Shared Folders", the ability to configure the webcam during a conversation, the "Send" button, some games, the general background of the conversation window, and tabs in the list contacts.
• Version 2011 (15.0).

In addition to the features available in MSN Messenger , Windows Live Messenger has the following:

The Microsoft Windows Live Call service made it possible to make audio calls from a computer to phones; it was distributed mainly in the United States.

In July 2006, the interaction of MSN users and Yahoo! Messenger This feature is available for users of MS Windows XP and later (the client for MS Windows 2000 version 7.x does not support this feature). An implementation has been added in the Windows Live Messenger update.

You can send a message to a contact if he is not online (Offline Conversations). The message will be delivered when the contact enters Messenger.

There are various games and applications available in Windows Live Messenger that can be accessed from the conversation window. To do this, just click the games icon, challenging your friend.

I'm Initiative

I'm Initiative is a Microsoft program launched in March 2007, the essence of which is charitable assistance to nine social organizations. Each time someone sends messages using special i'm mood icons, Microsoft shares a portion of its revenue from in-line advertising with the organization selected by the user. Only messages sent or received in the United States are counted . There is no set donation limit for organizations. The more the user conducts conversations using i'm , the more money goes to one of these organizations. Each participating organization is guaranteed to receive a minimum donation of $ 100,000 during the first year of the program. There is currently no end date for the program. ^[17] The i'm initiative only works in WLM versions 8.1 and 8.5.

Xbox 360

The ability to add xbox live users, and communicate with them through voice and video chats.

S60 Platform

Windows Live Messenger is also available for smartphones running Symbian os 9x. It is a mobile version.

Other changes

• The “Talking on the Phone” status from previous versions is now called “Connected” due to the addition of Windows Live Call .
• Aliases of individual contacts can be personalized and displayed different from those specified by the contact.
• Microsoft Passport replaced by Windows Live ID .
• Filter search by contact list.
• Starting with version 8.1, the image and the private message used by the user are posted on the server, so wherever he logs in, the displayed image and private message are saved. However, to use this feature, version 8.1 or newer must be installed on any of these computers.

Windows Live Messenger uses the Microsoft Notification Protocol (MSNP) over TCP (and optionally through HTTP to work with proxies ) to connect to the .NET Messenger Service, a service available on port 1863 with the host messenger.hotmail.com. The latest version is 15 (MSNP15), used by Windows Live Messenger and other third-party clients. MSNP15 introduces a different authentication mechanism. The protocol is not completely closed; but for versions 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the code remains closed. The .NET Messenger Service currently only accepts protocol versions 8 and higher.

The main competitors of Windows Live Messenger were AIM and ICQ , Trillian , iChat , Adium X , aMSN and Jabber-based clients , including Google Talk .

QQ is the dominant instant messenger in China. After MSN Messenger entered the Chinese market, QQ's popularity declined for a while, while MSN Messenger occupied about 17% of the Chinese instant messaging market.

Gadu-Gadu remains the most popular messaging service in Poland , with more than 6 million users online every day. However, recently it has been slowly giving way to Skype .

Some available add-ons allow you to modify Live Messenger, including hidden features, or expanding features. Among them:

• A-Patch ^[18]
• Messenger Plus! Live ^[19]
• WLM OSD Plugin - On Screen Display ^[20]
• Mess Patch ^[21]

Security Vulnerabilities

On September 12, 2007 , a blog post was posted on the Windows Live Messenger blog ^[22] that reported a security vulnerability found in versions of Messenger older than 8.1. “This vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user accepts an invitation to a video conversation or video call from an attacker. Using the vulnerability, an attacker could take complete control of the system. ” This led to the release of automatic updates for all older versions. For versions running on Windows 2000 and below, an upgrade to the new version of MSN Messenger 7.0 was required, and for versions running on Windows XP and above, an upgrade to Windows Live Messenger 8.1 was required. ^[23]

Windows Live Messenger was no longer supported by Microsoft in April 2013 ^[3] . All users of Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live ID can seamlessly make audio and video calls with their Skype contacts, as well as send instant messages when they log in to Skype using their Microsoft account. Thus, Microsoft in 2013 completed the integration of Windows Live Messenger with Skype .

• MSN Messenger for mobile devices (English) - versions for Pocket PC , Pocket PC Phone Edition and smartphones . (unavailable link from 15-08-2015 [1530 days])