.NET Messenger Service
Encyclopedia
The .NET Messenger Service (formerly MSN Messenger Service and sometimes called Windows Live Messenger Service) is an instant messaging
and presence
system developed by Microsoft
in 1999 for use with its MSN Messenger software and used today by its current instant messaging clients
, Windows Live Messenger
and Microsoft Messenger for Mac
. Third-party clients also connect to the service. It communicates using the Microsoft Notification Protocol, a proprietary instant messaging protocol. The service allows anyone with a Windows Live ID
to sign in and communicate in real time with other people who are signed in as well.
", due to the history of MSN Messenger. The service itself was known as MSN Messenger Service from 1999 to 2001, at which time, Microsoft changed its name to .NET Messenger Service and began offering clients that no longer carried the "MSN" name, such as the Windows Messenger
client included with Windows XP
, which was originally intended to be a streamlined version of MSN Messenger, free of advertisements and integrated into Windows.
Nevertheless, the company continued to offer more upgrades to MSN Messenger until the end of 2005, when all previous versions of MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger were superseded by a new program, Windows Live Messenger
, as part of Microsoft's launch of its Windows Live
online services.
Currently, the official name for the service remains .NET Messenger Service, as indicated on its official network status web page, though Microsoft rarely uses the name to promote the service. Because the main client used to access the service is called Windows Live Messenger
, Microsoft has recently started referring to the entire service as the Windows Live Messenger Service in its support documentation.
The service can integrate with the Windows
operating system
, automatically and simultaneously signing into the network as the user logs into their Windows account. Corporations can also integrate their Microsoft Office Communications Server and Active Directory
with the service.
and newer operating systems from Microsoft included a system notification service called Messenger service
, which was intended for use within workgroups, but eventually became used maliciously to present pop-up advertisements to users. This service, although it has a similar name, is not related in any way to the .NET Messenger Service or the Windows Messenger
instant messaging client. It became disabled by default with Windows XP Service Pack 2
and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
and was removed completely in Windows Vista
and Windows Server 2008.
, does not provide any encryption
. This makes wiretapping personal conversations in .NET Messenger a trivial task, especially in unencrypted public Wi-Fi
networks.
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
and presence
Presence information
In computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
system developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
in 1999 for use with its MSN Messenger software and used today by its current instant messaging clients
Comparison of instant messaging clients
The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of instant messaging clients. Please see the individual products' articles for further information. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date...
, Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
and Microsoft Messenger for Mac
Microsoft Messenger for Mac
Microsoft 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...
. Third-party clients also connect to the service. It communicates using the Microsoft Notification Protocol, a proprietary instant messaging protocol. The service allows anyone with a Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
to sign in and communicate in real time with other people who are signed in as well.
Background
Despite multiple name changes to the service and its client software over the years, the .NET Messenger Service is often referred to colloquially as "MSNMSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
", due to the history of MSN Messenger. The service itself was known as MSN Messenger Service from 1999 to 2001, at which time, Microsoft changed its name to .NET Messenger Service and began offering clients that no longer carried the "MSN" name, such as the Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger...
client included with Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, which was originally intended to be a streamlined version of MSN Messenger, free of advertisements and integrated into Windows.
Nevertheless, the company continued to offer more upgrades to MSN Messenger until the end of 2005, when all previous versions of MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger were superseded by a new program, Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, as part of Microsoft's launch of its Windows Live
Windows Live
Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
online services.
Currently, the official name for the service remains .NET Messenger Service, as indicated on its official network status web page, though Microsoft rarely uses the name to promote the service. Because the main client used to access the service is called Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, Microsoft has recently started referring to the entire service as the Windows Live Messenger Service in its support documentation.
The service can integrate with the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, automatically and simultaneously signing into the network as the user logs into their Windows account. Corporations can also integrate their Microsoft Office Communications Server and Active Directory
Active Directory
Active Directory is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers....
with the service.
Official clients
Microsoft offers the following instant messaging clients that connect to the .NET Messenger Service:- Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, for users of Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
- MSN Messenger was the former name of the client from 1999 to 2006
- Windows MessengerWindows MessengerWindows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger...
is a scaled-down client that was included with Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
in 2001
- Microsoft Messenger for MacMicrosoft Messenger for MacMicrosoft 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...
, for users of Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems... - Windows Live Web MessengerWindows Live Web MessengerWindows Live Web Messenger was the browser-based version of Windows Live Messenger developed by Microsoft which allowed users to send instant messages online and in real-time with others using the .NET Messenger Service from within a web browser...
, a web browserWeb browserA web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
-based messaging program for use through Internet ExplorerInternet ExplorerWindows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
in 2008- MSN Web Messenger was the former name of the client from 2004 to 2009
- Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live ContactsWindows Live ContactsWindows Live Contacts is part of Microsoft's Windows Live services. It integrates tightly with Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Profile to provide users access to their contact's profiles and information...
now include web-based functionality for instant messaging
Third-party clients
Additionally, these third-party clients and others can access the .NET Messenger Service:- AdiumAdiumAdium is a free and open source instant messaging client for Mac OS X that supports multiple IM networks, including Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, ICQ, and XMPP. It supports many protocols through the libraries libezv , MGTwitterEngine , and libpurple...
(Mac OS X, GPL) - aMSNAMSNaMSN is a free Windows Live Messenger clone. aMSN attempts to emulate the look and feel of Windows Live Messenger, and supports many of its features...
(Multi-platform, GPL) - AyttmAyttmAyttm is a multi-protocol instant messaging client. It is the heir of the EveryBuddy project.- Services :Ayttm primarily supports one to one and group chatting on MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, AIM, XMPP and IRC. It also has support for sending rudimentary emails via SMTP, which may be used to send SMS via...
(Multi-platform, GPL) - BitlBeeBitlBeeBitlBee is a cross-platform IRC instant messaging gateway, licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.BitlBee communicates with the user via the IRC protocol, providing a gateway to popular chat networks such as AIM and ICQ via OSCAR, .NET Messenger Service, Yahoo! and XMPP and the...
(Windows and Unix-like, GPL) - Beup Live (Nintendo DS homebrew)
- CenterIM (Cross-platform, GPL)
- DigsbyDigsbyDigsby is a freeware proprietary multiprotocol instant messaging application developed by dotSyntax, LLC. Digsby is written in Python and uses wxPython as its widget toolkit and WebKit for rendering...
(Windows, Mac and Linux planned, proprietary) - emeseneEmeseneemesene is an open source instant messaging client designed for use with Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service. It is a clone of Windows Live Messenger. emesene is the Spanish pronunciation of MSN, former name of Windows Live Messenger...
(Multi-platform, GPL) - EmpathyEmpathy (software)Empathy is an instant messaging client which supports text, voice, video, file transfers, and inter-application communication over various IM protocols....
(Linux GNOME, GPL) - eBuddyEBuddyeBuddy is a privately held company which owns a browser-based web and mobile messenger service supporting various instant messaging services. eBuddy was launched in 2003 under the name e-Messenger, located at www.e-messenger.net, before rebranding itself in 2006 to eBuddy.eBuddy supports Windows...
(Web-based and Mobile) - FireFire (instant messaging client)Fire is the first instant messaging client for Mac OS X , that can access IRC, XMPP, AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo! Messenger, and Bonjour. All services are built on GPL’d libraries, including firetalk, libfaim, libicq2000, libmsn, XMPP, and libyahoo2. Fire supports OS X v10.1 and higher.The latest version...
(Mac OS X, GPL) - XMPPExtensible Messaging and Presence ProtocolExtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
(Any client supporting XMPP protocol can use transports to connect to .NET Messenger Service) - Imo Instant Messenger (Web-based)
- KMess (Linux KDE, GPL)
- KopeteKopeteKopete is a multi-protocol, free software instant messaging client. Although it can run in numerous environments, it was designed for and integrates with the KDE desktop environment...
(Linux KDE, GPL) - MeeboMeeboMeebo is a social platform connecting users with their friends across the web. It began in 2005 as a browser based instant messaging program which supported multiple IM services, including Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, AIM, ICQ, MySpaceIM, Facebook Chat, Google Talk, CafeMom and...
(Web-based) - MeetroMeetroMeetro was a multi-network social messenger with location-based services . It was compatible with AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, GTalk, XMPP, and ICQ. Meetro's features made it useful for meeting people with similar interests in a given area, as well as bundling multiple...
(Multi-platform, proprietary) - minbif (Linux, GPL)
- Miranda IMMiranda IMMiranda IM is an open source multiprotocol instant messaging application, designed for Microsoft Windows. Miranda is free software distributed under GNU General Public License.- Architecture :...
(Windows, GPL) - Nimbuzz (Web-based, Mobile and GPL)
- PidginPidgin (software)Pidgin is an open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple. Libpurple has support for many commonly used instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to log into various services from one application.The number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over 3...
(formerly Gaim) (Multi-platform, GPL) - PlayXpertPlayXpertPLAYXPERT is an in-game tool set targeted towards gamers. It was built by former Xfire users, who felt it could use improvement. It features several in-game widgets, such as multi-protocol instant messaging, web browsing, a media manager, and others, all of which can be opened in-game, eliminating...
(Windows, proprietary) - SIM-IM (Multi-platform, GPL)
- tmsncTmsnctmsnc is a text-based instant messaging client, designed for use with the Microsoft Network. It is written in the C programming language. Through Ncurses, tmsnc can run on a wide variety of Unix-like operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X.The project was discontinued following the release...
(Multi-platform, text based) - Tjat (Browser-based, mobile widgets, Microsoft Gold Partner)
- Trillian (Multi-platform, Web, proprietary)
- Yahoo! MessengerYahoo! MessengerYahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!...
(Multi-platform, proprietary) - BeejiveIM (Multi-platform, proprietary)
Windows NT Messenger Service
Windows NTWindows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
and newer operating systems from Microsoft included a system notification service called Messenger service
Messenger Service
Messenger Service is a network-based system notification service included in some versions of Microsoft Windows. This service, although it has a similar name, is not related in any way to the .NET Messenger Service or the Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger instant messaging...
, which was intended for use within workgroups, but eventually became used maliciously to present pop-up advertisements to users. This service, although it has a similar name, is not related in any way to the .NET Messenger Service or the Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger...
instant messaging client. It became disabled by default with Windows XP Service Pack 2
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005...
and was removed completely in Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and Windows Server 2008.
Microsoft .NET Framework
Despite its name, the .NET Messenger Service is not in any way related to the Microsoft .NET Framework development platform. Neither the official clients nor the protocol itself is tied to the .NET Framework. The official clients themselves have verified this information. The name was invented as part of the Microsoft .NET strategy that did not go as expected.Criticism
The .NET Messenger Service has been criticized for the use of the Microsoft Notification Protocol, which in comparison to many other modern instant messaging protocols, such as XMPPExtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
, does not provide any encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
. This makes wiretapping personal conversations in .NET Messenger a trivial task, especially in unencrypted public Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
networks.
See also
- Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
- Microsoft Messenger for MacMicrosoft Messenger for MacMicrosoft 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...
- Windows Live IDWindows Live IDWindows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
- Microsoft Notification Protocol
- Comparison of instant messaging clientsComparison of instant messaging clientsThe following tables compare general and technical information for a number of instant messaging clients. Please see the individual products' articles for further information. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date...
- Comparison of instant messaging protocols