The most striking feature in the new Windows Live Messenger is an all-new interface with a colorful design, far from the traditional Windows application structure. I'm not sure that this handful of new functions is the reason why the program weighs in at almost 70 MB. Windows Live Messenger 2009 includes many interesting new features, all conveniently built into a nice interface. Another new feature in the contact management system in Windows Live Messenger is Favorites, a special category that enables you to have the people you talk to most always to hand. These groups allow you to have multiple simultaneous chats with several contacts. Regarding contact lists, the new Windows Live Messenger lets you create specific groups of users, different from the ones previously known as 'groups' and which have now been renamed to Categories. Another great feature in Windows Live Messenger is the possibility to view and share pictures within the chat window, without having to send files over to your contact.

There is also the possibility of having video chats using your webcam, and also make VoIP calls.

Also, Windows Live Messenger status messages have now been reduced to 'online', 'away' or 'busy' – so no more 'on the phone' or 'out to lunch', for example.Ĭhat conversations are not the only thing you can do with Windows Live Messenger. Customization possibilities include changing the chat window background or even adding a personal message to your nickname, but not creating custom status messages. You can expand both collections easily by adding new sets which you'll find by the hundred on the Internet. Windows Live Messenger offers plenty of emoticons and winks to cheer up your conversations. Users will have to use Skype with imported contacts to continue messaging Windows Live Messenger contacts.

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