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MSN Companion
MSN Messenger is Microsoft's offering in the IM market. Like
AIM and ICQ, it's a free download that lets users send
instant messages and files to MSN friends anywhere in the
world.
(Windows Messenger is the XP version of MSN Messenger and
has been integrated into the operating system. Windows XP
owners can easily start Instant Messaging by going to
Start/All Programs/Windows Messenger.
Features
In addition to the standard Instant Messaging features, you
can page a friend's cell phone via instant message, use your
PC microphone to carry on a voice conversation, play
DirectPlay games with other MSN members, or keep track of
your stocks with the MoneyCentral tab. MSN Messenger also
has a user-friendly feature that notifies you when you
receive e-mail through your Hotmail Account or any other
e-mail account. There's also an indicator that lets you know
when a MSN friend is typing a response to your IM.
Contact List
Use the Contact List to see who's online and available to
chat. You can then exchange instant messages with up to four
friends in the same conversation window. MSN correspondents
in your Contact List can also be broken down into groups for
easy organization.
Seeing and Being Seen
A nice privacy feature is the ability to "hide" your online
presence. You can appear "Offline" to everybody in general
or only to those you choose by using the "blocking" option.
You can also block people from sending you instant messages.
The Good and the Bad
The Good: The privacy features of MSN Messenger are a
definite plus as you have control over whether you're seen
or not and by whom.
The Bad: When you receive e-mail notifications, pop-up boxes
will annoyingly appear on the screen.
Getting Started With MSN Messenger:
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Go
to http://messenger.msn.ca to download the latest version
of MSN Messenger.
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Open
MSN Messenger and sign up for a Microsoft Passport
account. You can use your existing hotmail account if you
already have one.
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Use
your new login and password to sign-in.
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To
add users to your contact list, click on the Add button.
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You
can search for users by e-mail address, sign-in name, or
by their full name and address.
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To
send a message, double-click on the user you want to IM.
Type your message in the window, and click "Send".
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To
sign out, click on "File" and select "Sign Out."
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