WHAT IS MSN

• What is MSN?

MSN (The Microsoft Network), is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The debut of the Microsoft Network was as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system. The brand name MSN was used by Microsoft to promote several popular web-based services in the late 1990s and in 2005 and 2006 they promoted under another brand name, Windows Live.An instant messaging service was lanuched by MSN in 1999 to compete with AOL Instant Messenger, which was originally known as 'MSN Messenger Service' and was later shortened to simply 'MSN Messenger.' Currently, the underlying technology is known as '.NET Messenger Service,' whereas Windows Live Messenger is the name of the main program used to access the service.

1. What is MSN Messenger?

MSN messenger is a free instant messaging software licensed by Microsoft in 1999 and then, it has been renamed as Windows Live Messenger in 2006. MSN messenger is currently designed to work with Windows XP (32-bit only), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Mobile.

2. The main features of MSN messenger are:

Sharing of folders among online users in MSN messengerThe Sharing Folder feature is an alternative to the "direct file transfer" method. When a user wants to send a file to another person on his or her contact list, the "sharing folder" window appears. It is an personalized representation of all previously shared items. When files are added to the "sharing folder" for that particular person, the files will automatically be transferred to the corresponding person when they are online which means that the folder is shared between two computers. If a user deletes a file, the file will also be deleted from the corresponding computer's shared folder. The "sharing folder" feature is bundled with an anti-virus program to minimize the risk of virus-infected transfers. The only restriction is that the "sharing folder" feature is only supported by computers with NTFS-formatted hard disks. The "sharing folder" feature has been discontinued in the latest version of Windows Live Messenger (2009).PC-to-PC and PC-to-Phone calls in MSN messengerIn addition to PC-to-PC calls, Windows Live Messenger now supports PC-to-Phone calls with Windows Live Call. Windows Live Call integrates into Windows Live Messenger to allow users to make PC-to-PC and PC-to-Phone voice and video calls. It offers three ways of calling:Computer Call: PC-to-PC voice calls to Windows Live Messenger contacts (free)Video Call: PC-to-PC video calls to Windows Live Messenger contacts (free)Phone Call: PC-to Phone voice calls to landline and wireless numbers anywhere in the world (charges apply)As the extension of Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft released the Windows Live Messenger Phone, to make calls to other PC users or acts just like a normal telephone. 3.Interoperability in MSN messenger--

Microsoft and Yahoo! announced plans to introduce interoperability between their two messengers on 13th October, 2005. Interoperability between Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! was launched 12th July, 2006. This allows Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! users to chat to each other without the need to create an account on the other service. But both contacts must use the latest versions of the clients. However, if a user uses an old version of the client, they will appear offline to the users on the other network.Possibility to receive offline messages in MSN messengerBy using Windows Live Messenger one can send messages to offline contacts. They will receive the messages once they come online. Additionally, a user can start conversations even when his or her status is set to Appear Offline. But some restrictions are there, when talking to someone who use an older MSN Messenger client, they will lose the ability to continue after a short period of no activity, due to their client thinking you are offline.Accessibility to some online games and applications in MSN messengerFor Windows Live Messenger users there are various games and applications available in Windows Live Messenger that can be accessed by clicking on the games icon in the conversation window. The user can challenge or contact his or her friend to a competition in a game, or invite them to launch a shared external application.

4.The major advantages if MSN messenger are:

• MSN messenger is free.
• MSN messenger is easy to access.
• MSN messenger has a user-friendly interface and includes variety of different features for all kinds of online users.