Microsoft Messenger for Mac
Microsoft Messenger for Mac (previously MSN Messenger for Mac) is the official Mac OS X instant messaging client for use with Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service and is developed by the Macintosh Business Unit, a division of Microsoft. However, the feature list is limited in comparison to that of its counterpart Windows Live Messenger. The client is still maintained and updated but still lacks a number of features that its Windows counterpart contains. In response[citation needed] to its lack of features third-party competitors have been developed, such as Adium and aMSN.
Versions
The versions 3.x and later of Microsoft Messenger for Mac feature new Aqua graphics, whereas version 2.x and below have graphics similar to Windows Messenger 4.0. Versions 5.x use the brushed metal theme.
- Version 2.5.1 is an update to version 2.5, which is a mandatory update to version 2.1 that is available for users running Mac OS 9.2.2.
- Version 3.5 for Mac OS X revisions older than 10.2.8
- Version 4.0.1 for Mac OS X revisions 10.2.8 and newer
- Version 5.1.1 for Mac OS X revisions 10.3 and newer
- Version 6.0.3 for Mac OS X revisions 10.3.9 and newer
- Version 7.0.0 for Mac OS X 10.4.9 or newer was released on April 29, 2008.
- Version 7.0.1 for Mac OS X 10.4 or later includes minor bug fixes.
- Version 7.0.2 for Mac OS X 10.4 or later "improves overall quality and conversations with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2."
- Version 8.0.0 for Mac OS X 10.4 or later was released mid 2009 as a beta. There are rumored to be new added features such as video chatting, but Microsoft has not yet made an official stable release available.
It should be noted that with the release of Microsoft Messenger for Mac 7.0, Microsoft has discontinued the client's support for older versions of their Corporate messaging systems (such as Live Communications Server 2005).[citation needed] The latest version to support these older systems is Version 6.0.3, which is still available for download on the Microsoft website.
Webcam and audio support has been delayed due to Windows Live Messenger's webcam and audio engine being reworked, which meant that the Mac version had to wait until this was complete in order for both platform releases to function correctly.
Version 8.0.0 was expected to reach beta in 2009 with webcam and audio support. An unreleased and unstable version of Microsoft Messenger for Mac, labeled as version 8.0.0, was shown at Macworld Conference & Expo at the Macintosh Business Unit booth which contained webcam and audio support but no other new features.[1] However, almost a year later no new information on this version, or any form of webcam support for personal accounts, has emerged. However, there is now a leaked version of Messenger for Mac 8, which has full microphone and webcam support.
See also
- Adium
- aMSN
- Comparison of instant messaging clients
- iChat
- Macintosh Business Unit
- Windows Live Messenger
References
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2008) |
- ^ Pippen, Matt (February 23, 2009). "Messenger for Mac 8". MacFocus Magazine. Retrieved 2009-02-27.