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Microsoft now starting wider transition from Messenger to Skype on April 8th
It turns out that Microsoft's planned March 15th transition from Messenger to Skype is more of a soft target than a hard cutoff. Microsoft will switch off desktop Messenger that day only for a "test group," the company tells ZDNet; if all goes smoothly, the transition will start in earnest with English-speaking countries on April 8th. Every desktop user should be off the boat by April 30th. Messenger will still work on mobile devices, as well as in multi-network clients like Adium or Trillian, but that's not expected to last long -- and it might get quite lonely. Most of us ultimately get a slight reprieve, but the writing is most definitely on the wall.
Skype officially replacing Messenger, new version out now
When Skype 6.0 hit late last month, it introduced the ability to sign into the Microsoft-owned service using an existing Windows Live Messenger account (in addition to Facebook and Retina MacBook support). Now with a new version of the app released today, it's possible to chat with and call Messenger contacts directly. This is part of Microsoft's planned phasing out of Messenger in favor of Skype, something it revealed today will happen everywhere but mainland China by early 2013. The Skype update is now live from within Skype 6.0 or via the app's official download page.
Windows Phone 7.5 SMS bug breaks messaging hub, hard reset is the only remedy
An SMS message on your Windows 7.5 handset could knock messaging out cold, a one shot kill you can't prepare for. Apparently, WP devices that receive a text containing a certain string of characters will reboot and return with a non-functional messaging client which can only be restored via a hard reset. The flaw is not device-specific and has been found to affect other parts of the OS, locking up your handset if you've pinned a friend as a live tile and that buddy posts the magic bug words on Facebook or Windows Live Messenger. Fixing the problem requires quick tapping fingers, as you've got to remove the pinned tile after rebooting before it flips and freezes the phone again. Before you go abandoning WP7's ship, just know that SMS issues are a known phenomenon and have affected all the major mobile players, iOS and Android included. Until Microsoft releases a fix, cross your fingers and hang tight, but in the meantime, all you mobile masochists can see the bug in action after the break.
Microsoft has record Q1, rakes in $17.37 billion in revenue (updated: Skype plans revealed)
Q1 of 2012 (don't ask...) was good to Microsoft. Very good in fact. The company posted a record first quarter revenue of $17.37 billion, a 7-percent increase over the same period last year and slightly higher than the $17.26 billion that was expected. The big hero was Office which accounted for $5.62 billion of that income, though sales of Windows stayed flat and fell somewhat short of expectations. The company's $5.74 billion in net income was also a significant jump of 6-percent over the same time last year. For a few more of the financial particulars check out the earnings report after the break and the spartan spreadsheets at the source link. Update: Wondering what Microsoft plans to do with the newly acquired Skype? Well, details are thin, but during today's earnings call the company revealed it did plan to integrate the VoIP service and its technologies into Lync, Live Messenger and Xbox Live. Soon you may not only have to listen to your friend gloat after every kill in Call of Duty, you might have to watch him do a celebratory dance in his Lazy Boy too.
Microsoft delivers Live integration for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devs
Can't seem to part from that Hotmail account you established back in '96? Good news, because Microsoft is providing app developers with the necessary tools to hook into your Windows Live account -- and it's bringing Messenger and SkyDrive along for the ride. Now, publishers of Windows Phone, iOS, and Android applications will be able to empower you, the end user, to access your contacts, photos, and other personal bits from your dominant smartphone of choice. According to Redmond, consumers should expect a seamless experience when signing in and granting application privileges, which will be required only once, as third-party apps will remain authorized for Live access until its privileges are specifically revoked. For developers, Microsoft is providing standardized sample code, and software can be registered with Microsoft by simply providing the name and language of the app. It's an unholy matrimony for sure, but we'll gladly crash the reception.
Latest WP7 Mango leak hints at added Windows Messenger support
The upcoming Windows Phone update is looking better with each subsequent leak. What initially appeared to be primarily targeted toward programmers has since begun bearing fruit on the user's end, a trend continued with this latest unauthorized glimpse. We're certainly taking it with a few tablespoons of salt -- the Mango screens appeared on and were subsequently pulled from Chinese site Cnblogs -- but we like what we see. Perhaps most significant among the newly glimpsed features here is integration between WP7's People hub and Windows Live Messenger, making it possible to IM people directly from the contacts list. Also present, Bing Image Search, support for East Asian languages, and added SkyDrive functionality, which we've already seen previewed. No doubt we'll be hearing more on this very subject in the near future. More info as the story ripens. [Thanks, All]
Microsoft rolls out Windows Live Messenger for Zune HD
The Zune HD may not have seen quite the explosion of apps that many had hoped for, but it's just gotten a pretty big one: Windows Live Messenger. That will naturally give you much of the same functionality of its desktop counterpart (also receiving an update today), including the ability to keep watch on updates from various social networking sites, and even use Facebook Chat. It'll also display the music you have playing right in the app and, just like the desktop version, it's free. Look for it in the Zune Marketplace right now.
LG strolls into Town with C300 featurephone, offers portrait QWERTY for text addicts
Still on the lookout for an affordable QWERTY dumbphone? You might be in luck, as LG's just released this eye-catching Town C300 to cater to your texting and IM addiction on the cheap. Just like its predecessor, this new handset includes Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger, and push email integration, along with FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 2 megapixel camera from the hardware camp. The damage? Just a mere £69 ($108) from Orange, but don't tell your friends -- keep the extra booze money to yourself. %Gallery-102995%
TxTStopper announces cellphone jammer for your car, Microsoft too busy texting and driving to notice
Texting while driving is some pretty dangerous bloodsport. Knowing that still isn't going to change the behavior of an insolent teen. So why not take matters into your own hands, parents, and install a mini cellphone jammer in the family car? TxtStopper, a professionally installed 12 volt device, will apparently shut down all communications on any US cellphones operating in the car -- yes, including the non-driving passengers -- when the car is on and in gear. Unfortunately, TxtStopper's site chooses to prey on consumer fears rather than offer up any real technical details so we'll just trust them that it works as advertised, ok? For $200, maybe not. As an aside, the image above was grabbed from Microsoft's promotional video for its new Windows Live Messenger beta. A touch irresponsible to be promoting its mobile Messaging app for smartphones in this way don't you think? Skip ahead to the 1 minute 55 second mark of the embedded video if you need an outlet for your Monday morning angst. [Thanks, Max]
Windows Live Messenger comes to iPhone
It's certainly not the first app Microsoft has crafted for the iPhone -- the Bing app has been alive and well for a while now, among others -- but you could argue that this is a pretty important one. Windows Live Messenger has just launched for iOS, and it's quite a bit more than your basic IM app with support for some manner of social service aggregation, media-rich status messages, Hotmail integration, and even built-in photo effects. Many folks will want an IM client that can span a bunch of services at once -- but if you're a Windows Live fanatic stuck in an iPhone world, this should be just what the doctor ordered. Let's hope the experience is just as good on Windows Phone 7, right? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Microsoft prepping Yahoo, AIM, and Windows Live Messenger support for Kin?
The list of conspicuously missing features on Microsoft's Kin devices is a lengthy one, but considering the target demographic, there's at least one particularly egregious omission: instant messaging. Well-established ROM spelunker Conflipper is now reporting that Microsoft intends to add IM support in the future, though -- a belief he's presumably gleaned from looking through the latest firmware. Specifically, he mentions support for Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, and AIM, a three-pack that would come close to covering the main services most of the Kin-owning world cares about; Google Talk would be nice, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if Microsoft went without -- especially considering that they're starting from zilch.
Video Kinect: video chat and stream sharing over Xbox Live and Live Messenger
Xbox Live and Windows Live Messenger are about to meet up in a very personal way -- Microsoft has just announced a new video chat service called Video Kinect, which serves as a logical extension of its brand new Kinect voice- and motion-sensing control system. But it's not just video calling, no sir, you'll be able to watch movies, news, sports, and the like together with whoever you're chatting with. Additionally, thanks to a motorized base and a new skeleton-tracking feature, the Kinect unit will also follow users as they move around the room. Yup, not creepy at all.
Windows Live Messenger for iPhone previewed
Neowin.net has posted screen shots of the upcoming Windows Live Messenger for iPhone. According to Neowin's sources, Windows Live Messenger for iPhone will officially be previewed by Microsoft later today, but will not ship its public beta until June, with a limited private beta expected in May. Features gleaned from the screen shots include photo sharing, chat and a social stream for users. Of course, MSN Messenger has been supported on the iPhone since the unveiling of the app store via thrid party apps. Some of the popular ones include Nimbuzz (free), IM+ ($9.99), and Trillian ($4.99). Stay tuned for the official announcement later today and click on over to Neowin to see all the screen shots.
Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger phone for France is hardly Pink
Microsoft's a pretty big company, and while we've been focused on its Windows Phone 7 Series and Pink mobile projects over here in the Land of the Free, its Live Messenger arm has apparently teamed up with French mobile carrier SFR for a branded phone. The Messenger Edition 251 handset looks to be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 (or something older), with no word on who the hardware partner is, and is taking on the youth market just like Pink will presumably be doing Stateside sometime this year. Of course, Messenger is much more popular in Europe than it is in the States, so it makes sense to brand a phone around it, but underneath that candy QWERTY shell we're sure those hapless Europeans can find plenty of legacy Windows Mobile to be desperately disappointed in. [Thanks, Bibo]
Microsoft and Gemalto bring Windows Live Messenger to SIM cards
First motion detecting SIM cards, now this? Here in Barcelona, Microsoft and Gemalto are tag-teaming in order to bring Windows Live Messenger to otherwise vanilla SIM cards. The application, dubbed SIMessenger, is said to be the planet's first Microsoft-certified instant messaging SIM client solution. Essentially, this enables handsets even without a dedicated WLM client to still stay in touch (via SMS) with their long list of buddies, and evidently three operators -- Oi in Brazil, Personal S.A. in Argentina and Movistar in Peru -- have already started supplying them to customers. Call us crazy, but we get the impression that these won't be headed Stateside anytime soon.
VTech launches IS6110 instant messaging phone
Let's just get this out of the way: VTech packed a lot of ugly into the IS6110. That said, the phone isn't too shabby, using DECT 6.0 for call clarity, and supporting AIM and Windows Live Messenger instant messaging. To set it up you just plug the phone into a standard outlet, plug a USB cable into your PC and start LOL'ing all your buddies with abandon. The full QWERTY keyboard and color LCD should make the IM experience passable, but we're guessing this is going to be a price of quality scenario, with parents viewing the phone as a $99 solution to getting the chilluns off the PC for an hour or two so they can get some real work done on Bookworm Adventures. The phone is out in February.
Get your official BlackBerry IM clients now, if you dare
If you're ready to tax your poor, swollen thumbs a little more than they already are, well, good news: official instant messaging clients that support AIM, ICQ and Windows Live Messenger are seemingly ready to snatch from RIM's website right onto your beloved BlackBerry -- with some catches. It seems the necessary service books to get the clients working are missing from most carriers' BlackBerrys at the moment, and there's no word on exactly when they'll be appearing across the Berrysphere (we just made that term up, for the record). But hey, sounds promising, right? It seems there are some hacky hacks lying around (bless the RIM community!) to get these working on the 'Berry of your choice, but as always, proceed with extreme caution.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Philips VOIP433 and VOIP321 phones reviewed
It seems that Philips' delightful duo of VoIP phones have made their rounds in the US, and have finally landed in the reviewers lounge at GeekZone New Zealand. After spotting these units awhile back, the VOIP433 and VOIP321 both hit the testing block, and choosing between the two seems to boil down to whichever internet telephony platform best suits you. The 433 provided "true plug-and-play" functionality with Windows Live Messenger, and the unit's automatic contact updating was highly regarded. The biggest dig, however, came from the substandard LCD screen, which was dubbed "one of the worst" the crew had ever seen. On the 321 side, all of the advertised Skype functionality was performed adequately, the two-line display was "comfortable to read," and the larger button layout made dialing less of a chore. Both units touted a satisfactory 10-hour battery life (while talking), separate power supplies to locate the base station away from the PC, and all the dedicated landline features we've come to know and love. Overall, both devices were hailed as worthwhile purchases if you spend a good bit of time chatting it up with VoIP, but deciding between Windows Live Messenger and Skype is entirely in your court.
Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 reviewed
Our peeps over at PC Mag have gotten their hands on the higher-end of Microsoft's two Live-optimized LifeCams announced last month and, for the most part at least, seem to have dug it, giving it a hefty 4/5 rating. True to Microsoft's claims, they found that the cam was in fact, very easy to use and delivered some nice added features like face-tracking along with the standard pan, tilt, and zoom control. And while they were impressed with the 30 fps, 1,280-by-1,024 (interpolated, of course) video, they found that the audio quality from the built-in mic left a lot to be desired, having to crank up the volume in order to hear each other clearly, resulting in some nasty feedback. An external microphone would obviously solve that problem but, you know, would kinda defeat the purpose. Not surprisingly, the best results also came when using Windows Live Messenger, with some additional audio/video problems cropping up when used with AIM and Yahoo. A deliberate downgrade? Nah, couldn't be.
Philips Messenger Phone for Microsoft VoIP
It seems that there's a new VoIP handset on the market everyday, and today is no different, although you have to be a fan of Microsoft's version of Internet telephony if you want to take full advantage of the upcoming Philips Messenger Phone. Sporting a small color display, the plug-and-play VOIP4331S allows you to make free worldwide client-to-client calls over the Windows Live Messenger service or dial standard phone numbers on the cheap via Windows Live Call, and also acts as a regular cordless phone for when you get sick and tired of the crappy audio you're getting with VoIP. Philips promises that this model -- along with a dual-handset version called the VOIP4332S -- will "soon be available" at UK e-tailer Comet, but neither company is quoting prices yet.[Thanks, Nir S.]
