Still called MSN by almost everyone, Windows Live Messenger was the dominant instant messenger outside the United States in 2010, with hundreds of millions of users. Its 2011 version, released in late 2010, added Facebook chat and a social feed. Nudges shook your friend's window and custom emoticons replaced words.
- Domain in 2010
- messenger.live.com
- Launched
- 22 July 1999
- Owner in 2010
- Microsoft
- Status today
- Shut down
What people used it for
- Chatting with school friends after school
- Webcam calls and file transfers
- Status messages with song lyrics
Interface characteristics
- Green and blue buddy icons for online and away
- Nudges that shook the chat window
- Custom emoticons and winks
- Display pictures and personal messages
Notable features
- Facebook integration in Messenger 2011
- Handwriting messages
- Games inside chat windows
What happened later
Microsoft folded Messenger into Skype in 2013.
Archived on the Wayback Machine
Archived pages open on web.archive.org (Internet Archive). They are historical captures, not part of this exhibit.
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