Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends
Microsoft done with current Messenger for Mac client, whole new app due next year
Microsoft is calling it quits on MSN Messenger for Mac, instead choosing to go with an all-new IM client that will work with both AIM/gTalk/ICQ users and folks still on the Messenger network. The Mac version of Messenger was plagued with bugs (and Scott's gripes), and seriously-- why would you use a client like Messenger when you've got iChat and Adium anyway? It's good news that they're planning a new client, and extra good news that it's supposed to work with other protocols.So no more updates for Messenger on the Mac, but the new client is supposed to be "really, really cool and awesome." Sounds like just what the kids like these days. We'll believe it, of course, when we see it. Messenger 9 for Windows ships next year, so if this new Mac app gets delivered, it'll probably be sometime around then.
Update: A few readers said the post was confusing regarded Microsoft's plans for Messenger on the Mac, so updated for clarity.
Update II: Microsoft has responded, and the rumors of Messenger's demise were exaggerated-- Messenger 6.0 will be included with Office 2008, and Messenger 7.0 will have audio/video capabilities included, and will be beta testing soon. Makes us wonder what Liveside really heard Jenks say, but if you're a Messenger user like our own Scott McNulty, you'll be pretty happy to hear it's not going anywhere.
[via MacBytes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Austin said 8:35PM on 11-05-2007
Good Riddance!
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Kenji F said 8:35PM on 11-05-2007
OK, Seriously, if they stop the support for the WLM protocol, we're SOL. I know that WLM isn't popular in the US, but is the (only) way to go almost anywhere else in the world, especially in europe and latin america.
I know the client is buggy as hell (Adium FTW), but is the first choice for the switcher, and if it isn't available, they are going to start returning their macs en masse.
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Dave said 8:36PM on 11-05-2007
Adium's cool, but until it does video, it's not the answer for me either. Honestly, if iChat would just support Yahoo and MSN, I'd be a very happy camper.
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Brett said 8:44PM on 11-05-2007
"and seriously-- why would you use a client like Messenger when you've got iChat and Adium anyway?"
No one uses anything but Messenger in this part of Canada, and I'd rather uses the original program instead something that supports tones of messenger apps... I only use the one anyways so there all just full of useless features to me.
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Alan said 8:49PM on 11-05-2007
Um... well...
Thing is, with chat programs, you tend to use the clients that people you know use.
In my case, I don't know anyone who uses AIM (I live in Canada). So iChat isn't a possibility...everyone I know uses MSN Messenger.
I'm personally not a huge fan of Adium, but I think my point still stands - it's similar to facebook vs. myspace - none of my friends use myspace so I have to use facebook, which happens to have a lot of the people I know on it.
Anyways, here's hoping the new client is good, and (finally) supports video.
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Tom said 8:52PM on 11-05-2007
"and seriously-- why would you use a client like Messenger when you've got iChat and Adium anyway?"
... because no other Mac client supports Live Communications Server.
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The Grand Master said 8:52PM on 11-05-2007
To me, that article read like Microsoft were scrapping their messaging service completely, see here : 'Microsoft is calling it quits on MSN Messenger for Mac, instead choosing to go with an all-new IM client that will work with AIM/gTalk/ICQ users', is it just me or does that suggest that MS is ditching MSN completely, in favour of using those alternatives?
I assume MS aren't ditching WLM/MSN, as the tone of this article reads.
From inference I think the gist of this article is:
Messenger for Mac dead, new interoperable Messenger forthcoming in the future.
This felt far more doom and gloom on first read that the information really merits, or so I felt.
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Fernando said 8:53PM on 11-05-2007
No! Anyway, I'm keeping my copy of the app, supported or not.
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Rubbinz said 8:58PM on 11-05-2007
Now if only MSN worked in iChat I could actually use the program.
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Mike Piontek said 9:40PM on 11-05-2007
Wow. This article is really poorly written and misleading... I was confused as hell reading through it, Microsoft's decision didn't make any sense. Then I clicked Read and it made far more sense. Granted the blog post it's based on leaves a lot of unanswered questions, and isn't particularly clear itself. But geez.
The article says clearly "Brand new version of Messenger for Mac OS X coming". They're not done with Messenger for Mac, they're done with the "MSN Messenger" app we have now.
Your article implies that Mac users will not be able to communicate with the Messenger network. I'm not seeing this anywhere in the LiveSide blog post. Even if that is true, you failed to mention this important bit: "MS is trying to work out a way for WLM users to chat with AIM/GTalk/ICQ: basic internal version of GTalk working now". That means that even if the new client did not support Messenger directly, we'd still be able to talk to Messenger users using it.
You're also missing something much bigger: if Messenger users can talk directly to gTalk users, and possibly AIM users, then iChat will gain the ability to communicate directly with Messenger users as well. That is HUGE for Mac users.
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imacmatt09 said 9:46PM on 11-05-2007
Well I am a beta tester for Office 2008 and Messenger was included in the install.
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Shoaib said 10:03PM on 11-05-2007
most of my friends around where I live use AIM, but all of my friends in canada and hell even new jersey use MSN for some reason. I use Adium but whenever I need video, i have to load up parallels and use windows live messenger. It gets annoying quickly.
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Rhywun said 10:57PM on 11-05-2007
Huh. I have to admit I didn't know there was a Messenger for Mac. Everyone I know who was on MSN switched to Google before I switched from Windows to Mac last year, so I didn't even think to look for it.
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Raffi said 11:05PM on 11-05-2007
Another Canadian MSN user here. I use both Adium and Microsoft Messenger, and to be honest I prefer Microsoft Messenger. The only thing I want is offline messaging support, and audio/video support. That's all I ask. I don't need to talk to AIM users. I just want some basic improvements on what already works. >_< Nobody in Canada uses anything but MSN.
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Matt Lew said 11:28PM on 11-05-2007
MSN messenger is called Messenger for Mac for those who don't know.
The program has been flawed from the start. Message notifications, message windows etc. are too troublesome. Adium has tabs which is much neater.
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Taylor said 1:06AM on 11-06-2007
aMSN is the closest I've seen to the Windows Live Messenger client (supports Winks, A/V chat, offline messages, etc), but it is a bit crash-prone. Nonetheless I put up with it until Microsoft get off their asses and do something
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Jt Hollister said 1:11AM on 11-06-2007
To those who say they prefer MSN to Adium: That's only because you don't actually know how to use Adium. If you did, you would simply download one of the many thousands of mods available for Adium, and then you'd like it better.
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MrMe said 4:16AM on 11-06-2007
An update for Adium is released today - but STILL no offline messaging.
I know you're only a duck, but if you're reading this, Mr Adium, please lay an egg full of magic offline messaging code yolk.
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Lcs said 4:26AM on 11-06-2007
@10
"if Messenger users can talk directly to gTalk users, and possibly AIM users, then iChat will gain the ability to communicate directly with Messenger users as well"
I doubt that. I assume you still need the MS client to talk to MSN users.
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DistortedLoop said 10:09AM on 11-06-2007
I wouldn't be surprised to see Google find some way to try to force a single platform on chat clients ala their recent attacks on the facebook API and now the cellphone OS. It's all ad driven in the long run to them, but keeping people off of proprietary closed systems is key to Google's long term survival, and as chatting becomes even more popular than it already is, it's bound to draw more attention from the GoogMonster.
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