Microsoft Messenger for Mac, previously MSN Messenger for Mac, is a production of the Macintosh Business Unit, a division of Microsoft. It allows users of the Mac OS to use the popular MSN Instant Messaging protocol. However, the feature list is limited in comparison to that of its Windows counterpart, currently at version 7.5 (betas of version 8, now called Messenger Live, are circulating around the internet.) Users of the Mac client cannot have audio or video conversations via webcam or microphone.
In response to the lack of features, many third party clients have been designed for the Mac platform, for example Mercury Messenger, Adium, Proteus, and aMSN to name a few. Versions
The versions 3.x and later of Microsoft Messenger for Mac feature new Aqua-esque graphics, whereas version 2.x and below have graphics similar to Windows Messenger 4.0.
- Version 2.5.1 is an update to version 2.5, which is a mandatory update to version 2.1 that is available for users running Mac OS 9.2.2.
- Version 3.5 is available for users running Mac OS X revisions previous to 10.2.8
- Version 4.0.1 is available for users running Mac OS X revisions more recent than 10.2.8
- The latest version of Microsoft Messenger for Mac is 5.1 running on Mac OS X v10.3 or later.
Current features
- Support for Live Communications Server - not for home users.
- Ability to receive custom and animated emoticons
- Brushed metal interface
- Corporate messaging; similar to Windows Messenger's feature of the same name
- Multiple file transfers
- Number of contacts increased to 300
- Number of people per conversation increased to 15
- Revamped conversation history system
- Tighter integration with Office 2004
- "User tiles"; display pictures
- Global address
The Mac version also offers integration with Microsoft Office; instant messages can be sent to contacts in Microsoft Entourage; IMs and files can also be sent from the Microsoft Word reviewing toolbar. Criticisms
- MSN Messenger for Mac is U.S.-centric. MSN Messenger for Mac translates o + / into ø, giving all Norwegian .no addresses a weird appearance: http://www.microsoft.nøindex.html as opposed to http://www.microsoft.no/index.html.
- MSN Messenger for Mac is not as featured as MSN Messenger for Windows, forcing users who want all the features to purchase Windows.
[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Microsoft Messenger for Mac ]
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