Windows Messenger vs MSN Messenger

[JC in God's country]

Any thought about which one to use ?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings JC,

There are several differences between the two. Most notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for
display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger
supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM Server, etc. Which one you use is up
to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon your needs and likes), however one
thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be installed on
Windows XP in order for MSN Messenger to retain full functionality (Remote Assistance,
Whiteboard, Application Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies (Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

Which one you use is a matter of personal choice, based upon what functionality you need and
how you want Messenger to look.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[JC]

Thanks for the informative and prompt response. One more
question, if I run Windows Messenger, will I be able to
communicate with someone who runs MSN Messenger?

Cheers

JC

-----Original Message-----
Greetings JC,

There are several differences between the two. Most

notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for

display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different

interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger

supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM

Server, etc. Which one you use is up

to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon

your needs and likes), however one

thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be installed on
Windows XP in order for MSN Messenger to retain full

functionality (Remote Assistance,

Whiteboard, Application Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies

(Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,

etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around

Windows technologies (Exchange Server,

Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft

technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,

..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

Which one you use is a matter of personal choice, based

upon what functionality you need and

 

[Ian]

Further to this - I tried this last night and although we
could send instant messages with one of us on MSN and the
other (me) on Windows messneger we could not get the
video/webcam "conversation" going.

Any ideas ?

Ian.

 

[Ian]

Further to this - I tried this last night and although we
could send instant messages with one of us on MSN and the
other (me) on Windows messenger we could not get the
video/webcam "conversation" going.

Any ideas ?

Ian.

-----Original Message-----
Greetings JC,

There are several differences between the two. Most

notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for

display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different

interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger

supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM

Server, etc. Which one you use is up

to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon

your needs and likes), however one

thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be installed on
Windows XP in order for MSN Messenger to retain full

functionality (Remote Assistance,

Whiteboard, Application Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies

(Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,

etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around

Windows technologies (Exchange Server,

Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft

technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,

..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

Which one you use is a matter of personal choice, based

upon what functionality you need and

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

HI JC,

You certainly can, they both operate on the same network.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Ian,

Voice features are the same across the Messenger versions but video is a bit fragmented. The
MSN Messenger "Webcam" functionality is not compatible with Windows Messenger, but the MSN
Messenger "Video Conference" feature is compatible with Windows Messenger's "Start Camera"
functionality.

However, this "Video Conference" option in MSN Messenger is only available while running on
Windows XP, and a direct connection needs to be established between you and your contact. As
such, unlike the MSN Messenger "Webcam" which can go through a Messenger relay server, the
"Video Conference" and Windows Messenger equivalent can not.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Ian,

Voice features are the same across the Messenger versions but video is a bit fragmented. The
MSN Messenger "Webcam" functionality is not compatible with Windows Messenger, but the MSN
Messenger "Video Conference" feature is compatible with Windows Messenger's "Start Camera"
functionality.

However, this "Video Conference" option in MSN Messenger is only available while running on
Windows XP, and a direct connection needs to be established between you and your contact. As
such, unlike the MSN Messenger "Webcam" which can go through a Messenger relay server, the
"Video Conference" and Windows Messenger equivalent can not.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Ian Hutch]

Hi Jonathan, This explains it, thanks. I will install MSN
messenger as all my contacts seem to run this so should
solve the problem.

Ian

-----Original Message-----
Hi Ian,

Voice features are the same across the Messenger

versions but video is a bit fragmented. The

MSN Messenger "Webcam" functionality is not compatible

with Windows Messenger, but the MSN

Messenger "Video Conference" feature is compatible with

Windows Messenger's "Start Camera"

functionality.

However, this "Video Conference" option in MSN Messenger

is only available while running on

Windows XP, and a direct connection needs to be

established between you and your contact. As

such, unlike the MSN Messenger "Webcam" which can go

through a Messenger relay server, the

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Ian,

Yes, if all contacts are using MSN Messenger, the relays servers can be used, so it should
work. The experience (that is, speed and quality) is much better when directly connected
however.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com