MSN Messenger 7 Beta Includes Search

Microsoft is planning to limited release the beta of the latest version of Instant Messaging client “MSN Messenger” as early as next week. The screenshots of one of the early release were available on tech sites as early as yesterday. The planned release date of the final version is expected to be in the early 2005. Some of the major enhancements in this version are mainly integration of some of the features from threedegree program like additions of features like Winks, Nudges, downloadable packs, and activities. Users will also be able to specify their status before logging in (mainly useful for logging in invisibly). Many of these features are already available in its primary competitor Yahoo! Messenger.

Messenger users will also note integration with MSN Services like the search engine and even blogging. Users will be able to access MSN Search engine directly from the Client window. In addition, true integration with MSN Explorer would mean that users would be able to store and manage a lot of information about their contact lists and friends. Overall, it looks like a hot release in the pipeline.