Greetings,
Yes and No.
Using Windows Live Messenger, you can only connect to the .NET Messenger service. There is
Windows Messenger, which has some differen options, but it only works on Windows XP.
Additionally, Windows Messenger is considered a defunct product and its Exchange IM services
is long gone. So now if you want to do this (from a Microsoft only solution anyway), you'll
need an Office Communications Server and Office Communicator for the clients. Naturally as an
enterprise server product, this isn't free but can be quite slick.
That all said, since Windows Messenger supports SIP-based IM too, using third party software,
you can also setup a local SIP server that will work with Windows Messenger. For instance
OfficeSIP (
http://www.officesip.com/sip-server.html) may be an option for you. One major
advantage to doing this way is that you're not specifically limited to Windows Messenger
(which only works on XP), as you can use other SIP clients on any Windows version or
operating system.
One small note: Office Communications Server is SIP-based as well.
--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog:
http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation