Windows live messenger 2012

The departed Messenger by Microsoft

Before the huge impact made by WhatsApp on the one hand, and Facebook, Twitter, and social networks in general, on the other, you’ll recall the presence of instant messaging and chat systems that didn’t have anything to do with smartphones. At first, we had the IRC, that became quite popular back then until Microsoft’s Messenger returned to its underground status. Previously known as MSN Messenger, this software became one of the most popular programs among users from all over the world to chat with, evolving through the different versions of Windows (XP, Vista, and 7) until it became Windows Live Messenger, a more sophisticated program built into the Windows Live communication package. Download Windows Live Messenger for PC to also get hold of other tools of the likes of Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Writer or Photo Gallery.

It was the most popular platform to chat and send text messages between friends, family, and workmates.

Well, although we’ve already told you part of its story, you already know how it all ends: along came the smartphones and Facebook appeared as a very powerful social channel with which it managed to coexist for some time. WhatsApp and other messaging apps started winning over its users and it ended up gobbled up by the new uses of user-level technology. In the end, Bill Gates’ company put a full stop to the software after purchasing Skype and simplifying the migration of users from MSN to this app, with many more functions and better adapted to the new user demands and possibilities offered by Android and iOS smartphones and tab tablets

Features

• Instant messaging conversations with all the members of your contact list.
• Video conferences by means of high-definition video cameras.
• Share photos, music and videos through this platform.
• Modify your status automatically. Appear with different statuses based on users, groups and categories.
• Speak with your contacts from the inbound tray of your electronic mail. All the activity is accessible from Windows Live without any need to have the application installed.
• Integration with social networks to receive all the notifications jointly (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn…)
• Play while you chat.
• Customize your backgrounds and the session sounds.
• Integration with the Bing search engine.
• Share your activity over the Internet with all your contacts (YouTube, Flickr, WordPress…)
• Conversation windows grouped by tabs…

MSN 2011 is another step forward, especially regarding the program’s traditional interface. The need to implement the new features has caused a more complete interface with many more options to be created. Furthermore, it offers us the possibility to customize many things. And the emoticons have also been renovated.

Communicate with the world without renouncing to your privacy

Privacy is one of the aspects of the application that the developers at Microsoft have paid most attention to when developing this version of Live Messenger. You will have the possibility to choose between various privacy profiles and choose who will be able to access your personal information and a list of activities.

Once you download Windows Live Messenger for PC, you will be able to install other applications developed by Microsoft like Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Writer or Photo Gallery.

The best possible election

Windows Live Messenger has managed to become one of the best tools to speak with your friends over the Internet. To all the traditional functions you now have to add new features, with a special mention to their integration with social networks as a fundamental step to keep up with the user’s habits.

Requirements and additional information:

• Works on Windows Vista and above.
• The service no longer works as it has been integrated into Skype.

Elies Guzmán

With a degree in History, and later, in Documentation, I have over a decade of experience testing and writing about apps: reviews, guides, articles, news, tricks, and more. They have been countless, especially on Android, an operating system…