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MSN Messenger 6.0 Details
Yesterday we exclusively revealed the release date for MSN Messenger 6.0 and discussed the possibilities for the future of both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger. Today more details have emerged about what MSN Messenger 6.0 will bring. According to reliable sources close to neowin, MSN Messenger is indeed going straight for the consumer and leaving Windows Messenger far behind (in terms of functions).

MSN Messenger 6.0, due to be released on the 17th of July will include a myriad of personalization options aimed at home users. Users will have the option to have a "My MSN Picture" which is a buddy picture of yourself displayed in much the same way as in MSN Explorer 8.0. Users will also see better Webcam support for Windows XP, more games and most importantly 75 new emoticons. There will be the possibilty to use your own emoticons, however the other person you are chatting to will have to have these emoticons too - this isn't very clear at this stage.

For everyone into Instant Messaging and for the guys over at Mess with MSN Messenger it will be a great release. This kind of customization doesn't stop here though. Also included will be "chat backgrounds" (allowing users to customize what they see whilst they are chatting) and the ability to log MSN Messenger conversations (the guys over at Messenger Plus! might have something to say about that one). Whatever happens, on the 17th of July MSN will have set up services specifically targetted at it's MSN 8 subscribers to combine the functionality of MSN Messenger 6.0 with that of MSN Explorer 8.5.

MSN Radio Plus & Mobile Plus details
MSN Radio Plus is due to launch this week. At the moment it doesn't look like it will be bundled with MSN 8's BOYA (Bring Your Own Access). This means the service may have a fee in addition to that of your MSN 8 subscription. Details emerging at the moment suggest it will be $4.99 a month or $29.99 anually. If this is correct it means MSN's Radio Plus is cheaper than Yahoo!'s LaunchCast Plus, priced at $35.99 anually. Could this new service be a serious competitor for Apple's iTunes or just another Radio service?

Also due to launch soon is MSN Mobile Plus (or Premium Mobile). Although we have very few details about this new service, it will be very welcome to those who use mobile devices, such as Pocket PCs, on the move. Stay tuned for more details on this.

Screenshot: MSN Radio Plus concept
View: MSN Radio Plus due to be launched here, later this week

What does this mean for MSN Messenger you ask? Well, as it is clear from recent emails that customers of phone services (included in Windows Messenger) have received, Microsoft are cutting such services from Windows Messenger forcing their customers to move to MSN Messenger to use these services. This is proof that Microsoft wants home users to use MSN Messenger. Windows Messenger doesn't support MSN Explorer 8 or MSN Explorer 8.5. Yet another reason to switch to MSN Messenger 5.

We're currently seeing a trend where all services included in Windows Messenger are being cut out and added to MSN Messenger 5. The only reason users need Windows Messenger at the moment is for Remote Assistance and its whiteboard features. I can't see this being added to MSN Messenger 6 but I can see support for Windows Messenger 4.7 being dropped for users and a better way of managing both clients on one system.

One interesting thing about Windows Messenger is that not only is it included in Windows XP, Microsoft fully support it via Windows Update and they even updated it in Windows XP SP1. Why now have they decided to stop supporting it fully and start ripping features out of it? Will we see Windows Messenger updated in SP2 like we did in SP1 or will it, like it is at the moment, be pushed aside and forgotten about.

We'll see MSN Messenger 6.0 soon which might answer all the questions users have about the huge mix up Microsoft have made with their Instant Messaging clients or it might not. What will happen with Windows Messenger 4.7 and 5.0? Not much seems to be happening with 4.7, not even any updates to make it 4.8 to show they are working towards a 5.0 release for home users. Windows Messenger 5.0 now supports all of Microsoft's new Real-Time Communication server (greenwich) features. A question I ask myself is will Microsoft drop support for .NET passport sign-in on Windows Messenger 5.0? If they do then this will definitely mean the end of Windows Messenger updates for home users.

I'd like to thank Todd (activewin.com). Neobond, and Spyder for the inspiration to write this article and for dicsussing most of these matters with me and coming to the same conclusion, Microsoft have messed this up. We have contacted Microsoft about Windows and MSN Messenger and posed a few questions to them about this. Unforunately at the moment they haven't been able to get back to us, as soon as they do we'll let you all know.