In an internal message to developers, the Windows Live team has announced the long-awaited integration of several instant messaging networks to work together with Windows Live. Among these networks to be added are ICQ and Skype as well as AIM, Facebook Chat and Google Talk.
“We are currently aiming to achieve full integrative support for widely popular instant messaging networks. Therefore, we have started discussions with the back-end and front-end Developer Teams of AOL LLC, Skype Ltd and Google Inc. Furthermore, we have intensified our cooperation with Facebook Inc. for a similar purpose,” says Dharmesh Mehta, Windows Live Messenger Product Manager.
The integration of the chat networks powered by AOL, namely ICQ and AIM, has always been a big wish for Messenger users all around the world, and seems to be the continuing of what the Messenger team started when adding support for Yahoo, back in 2006. Skype integration offers interesting possibilities, such as video and voice calls right from Windows Live Call.
With Facebook, another social networking site enters the boat, and I think Microsoft is just happy about being able to continue their efforts to introduce social networking to Messenger; we have already seen the beginning of this in Wave 3 (Windows Live Profile, What’s New Feeds etc). Finally, connecting with Google opens another wide audience of Messenger users.
The current master plan for adding support for ICQ, AIM, Skype, Facebook and GTalk is Q4-2009, so it will probably make its way into Windows Live Wave 4, where ideas are currently gathered for and sorted.
“I can’t promise too much yet, but I think it’s just what Windows Live is missing currently,” states Dharmesh. “You’ll soon be able to add Facebook […] on Windows Live. This means that […], if you’re a Facebook user, you can choose to allow info and photos that you post on Facebook to show up in ‘What’s new’ for anyone in your network on Windows Live,” says Brian Hall, General Manager for Windows Live.
Adding support for all major instant messaging networks would make Windows Live Messenger the unquestionable no. 1, and it seems that Microsoft is finally realizing exactly this – if things are implemented the way they are announced.
Looking forward to hear your opinion on this!
- LiveSide.net: New IM networks for Windows Live?
- Messenger Stuff: New IM networks for Windows Live
- LiveSino.net: WL Messenger ?? AIM, ICQ, Skype, GTalk, Facebook ???
- Mess.be: Windows Live Messenger hot topic on April Fools Day 2009
- ActiveWin.com: New IM networks for Windows Live?
- Ditii.com: IM networks (ICQ, Skype, AIM, Facebook Chat and Google Talk) added to Windows Live
- WinAjuda: Novas redes a caminho do Windows Live Messenger
- TechBlips: New IM networks for Windows Live
- Windows Vista Magazine: New IM networks for Windows Live Messenger?
- SysAdmin.it: New IM networks for Windows Live?
- Vistaheads.com: New IM networks for Windows Live Messenger?
- Charged.co.za: New IM networks for Windows Live?
- Recursosvoip.com: New IM networks for Windows Live
sounds like an april fool prank to me
Very interesting material. Thanks for sharing. MS: Hurry! or you are going to end up losing this one. Good luck!
Sounds like an April Fools joke to me
More integration means more problems.. as is the case with all the integrated/syncing going on already within the Windows Live products.
Hilarious. Not only a funny April Fool’s story, but you also managed to trip up the folks over at LiveSide: http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2009/03/31/new-im-networks-for-windows-live.aspx
-Dharmesh
P.S. We love that you’ve got the new Windows Live Messenger web bar running on your site. Awesome!
yep, April Fools’ prank imo. We’ll soon find out though
wow
April fools!!!
No April joke. This rumor has been on Wikipedia for ages. I hope the MS developer team really wakes up and supports more networks.