Since then, the software has only allowed connections to its own service, requiring a Windows Live ID (.NET Passport at that time) account to connect. When this code runs, it determines if the client is AIM and sends a message back to verify the client. AOL did this by exploiting a buffer overflow bug in AIM, which causes it to execute a bit of machine code sent by the server. America Online continually tried to block Microsoft from having access to their service until eventually the feature was removed, and it has not re-surfaced in any later versions of the software. When it was first released, it featured support for access to America Online's AIM network.

It included only basic features, such as plain text messaging and a simplistic contact list. The first version of MSN Messenger Service, version 1.0 (), was released July 22, 1999.

During that time, Microsoft released seven major versions as follows. It remained active in China for another 18 months, and ceased operations there on October 31, 2014.īefore the product was renamed Windows Live Messenger, it was named 'MSN Messenger' from 1999 to 2006. In 2013, the product was discontinued, and Microsoft began cutting service to existing clients. įollowing its acquisition of Skype Technologies in May 2011, Microsoft added interoperability between Skype and Microsoft accounts, allowing Skype-which had features unique to its platform and a wider user base-to communicate with Windows Live Messenger contacts. In June 2009, Microsoft reported the service attracted over 330 million active users each month, placing it among the most widely used instant-messaging clients in the world. It has since been officially known by the latter name, although its first name remained in common use. The client was first released as MSN Messenger Service on July 22, 1999, and was marketed under the MSN brand until 2005, when it was rebranded under the Windows Live name. Versions were developed for Windows, Xbox 360, Mac OS X (later under the name Microsoft Messenger for Mac), BlackBerry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x, MSN TV, Zune HD, Windows Phone, Windows Mobile and Windows CE. It connected to the Microsoft Messenger service and, in later versions, was compatible with Yahoo! Messenger and Facebook Messenger. MSN Messenger (also known colloquially simply as 'MSN' ), later rebranded as Windows Live Messenger, was a cross-platform instant-messaging client developed by Microsoft.

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