Print - MSN Messenger Update Adds Games, MSN Toolbar

This week, Microsoft will finally release MSN Messenger 6.2, the company's most recent Instant Messaging (IM) client, which adds online gaming interoperability and an optional installation of the MSN Toolbar for Internet Explorer. MSN Messenger currently has more than 120 million users, according to Microsoft.

Despite its minor version-number change (the earlier version was 6.1), MSN Messenger 6.2 contains two major updates. First, the product now integrates with Microsoft's online games through the new MSN Instant Games Clubhouse, which features access to familiar head-to-head game titles such as Wheel of Fortune, MSN Instant Games Chess, and Bankshot Billiards, as well as a game called UPWORDS. "The popularity of online gaming is booming, with nearly 50 million people already jumping on the Internet instead of pulling a boxed game from their closets when they want to play games," Blake Irving, corporate vice president of MSN Communication Services and Member Platform Group, said. "Gaming with MSN Instant Games combines the best of both worlds, bringing some of the most popular boxed games to life online while enabling people to connect with their friends--or rivals--in gameplay wherever they might be." MSN Instant Games Clubhouse is available only in the United States and isn't free: Subscribers must pay $4 to $5 a month for each new head-to-head game, Microsoft says, although the company also offers seven free games.

MSN Messenger 6.2 also includes an optional installation of the MSN Toolbar for Internet Explorer, which Microsoft says users have downloaded 1.2 million times since its release in January. The toolbar provides pop-up ad blocking and Web search functionality, as well as quick access to various MSN online services.

Small changes in MSN Messenger 6.2 include emoticon autocorrect functionality, a connection troubleshooter, and contact-list improvements related to mobile device users. Microsoft routinely makes changes of this kind with minor MSN Messenger upgrades.

Microsoft originally released MSN Messenger 6.2 Thursday but pulled it because of unnamed technical problems. The company will release the product again this week. "The 6.2 client is currently on hold," a Microsoft spokesperson told me.

Microsoft isn't the first company to integrate online games into its IM client. Last week, AOL's ICQ subsidiary released ICQ 4.0, which includes new games and other features. And Yahoo! is set to release a major IM version today called The All New Yahoo! Messenger, which will let users more easily tie into the company's online games service. The new Yahoo! client will also feature a completely reworked UI and integration with Yahoo! services such as photo sharing, Address Book, and LAUNCHcast Radio.

My MSN service has been all screwed up since Ver.[9] installed but since April 9 it has been almost non existant. I have not been able to get online more than [90] percent of the time. I personaly think they are in way over their heads and have given them until April 30 to get me up and running or I am moving to another ISP. They do this all the time. They screw with the system, without telling you, and the only way you find out about it when you find a new icon in the tray or another feature stuffed in the corner of the screen. I just found a "Time Synchronizer" iconon in the tray this session [4:01 AM Tues 04/27/04]. What I realy need is a good stable ISP that I can use to get onto the internet. All the bells and whistles do not impress me. Do you have any suggestions? I am retired and use the Internet to sell thru Ebay but I am out of business when the email is down. I have recieved email only [3] times since 04/09. I have worked the on-line help for a major CAD/CAM system for [5] years before I retired and they had yearly releases with an explanation of all the new features. I told Microsoft that I think they have "Bitten Off More Than They Can Chew" and I am more sure of that every day. I am inclined to continue because I may not be able to get back on-line for a few days but that is enough bitching for today. Regards, Bob Garrett

Paul, do you know anything about MS's plans for Windows Messenger? It's strange and annoying that XP's Messenger and MSN's Messenger continue to be so similar yet so different. In the interest of full disclosure, I ask partly because I'm having occasional problems with XP's Messenger.

Sorry about your problem Bob, it is a shame it cant be better. I myself was once an MSN customer 6 years ago and after a few months i left for good because of the same problems you mentioned. I live in the south and use Bellsouth DSL. My only complaint has been with some problems with email, but it is not frequent. It happens sometimes when they are going to do an upgrade to the email service, but they do announce they are going to do that via an email most of the time. They also have a system status for local cities that mention which areas are having problems and which areas will have some downtime, it is a nice service. The best thing i love is the speed and i use a router with a firewall built in to get online. I thought when i signed up it would be a modem, but i was pleasantly surprised to get the router. I just boot up the computer and when i get into Windows im already logged in to the internet. This is the way to connect to the internet in my opinion. Why use AOL, MSN or any other when you can connect and surf like this? This is fantastic! Hopefully the bill, Prez Bush wants to pass for no broadband tax, will lead to cheaper pricing and more abundance of DSL connected homes and buisness. The consumer can only win :) Again, sorry about your problem

I will never personally have dialup again if at all possible. If you figure the cost of the extra phone line + the ISP, it's actually cheaper for me to have my high speed cable access. My wife has an E-Commerce web site and also sells through E-Bay. Honestly, ANYONE doing online business or a web site should have high speed access (about $40-50 a month -- AND -- not taxable by the government where all others are subject to internet tax). That being said, I have friends on MSN and they have no issues at all. They had switched to MSN to get AWAY from problems ... especially those with AoL. However, you do not state what is happening as to why you can't connect or where you are (city, rural). Your phone line could be getting additional interference these days, your system may need to be 'refreshed', or your modem, itself, could be having issues. Actually, I just repaired a computer for a friend because they did not keep up their AV software or the Windows patches -- got the BLASTER virus that would not allow them to either connect ... or stay connected if they could connect. As you can see, it may NOT BE your ISP. To that effect I would recommend backing up your important files to disc ... reformat your system and install something like Win2k or WinXP (if your sysytem will handle it). This will clean up registry errors, totally rid your system of spyware/adware, and even viruses or trojans. Make certain you have a great AV program (I personally like Norton AV), a fire wall to stop adware and 'unknown' installations (Zone Alarm has a great free one) ... then KEEP up with all updates and patches! Start there and see if you don't see a huge difference my friend. Not on MSN, but KNOW ISPs and computers! Hope this helps you start in the right direction. I seriously doubt your issues stem from MSN.

To Robert Garrett: Your local cable company probably offers High Speed Internet by cable and your phone company may offer High Speed Internet by DSL line. Ask friends, associates what they do. Get high speed if you can as the speed diffence is incredible over phone dial-up and makes surfing etc. much more enjoyable.

To the previous reader: Robert, I believe the article was focusing on just MSN Messenger and MSN Toolbar. But by the problems you mentioned it sounds like you have 2 issues. First, the "Time Synchronizer". This sounds like SPYWARE. You can and should remove it ASAP. I recommend AD-AWARE. Works great and is free. Find it at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Second, your ISP problem. You are not alone with the MSN problems. I moved several clients to Earthlink from MSN because of problems with their MSN service/software. You don't have to have MSN as your ISP to use the features they are discussing above. I use MSN Messenger and MSN Toolbar, but have a different ISP. Another option for you is to remove the MSN ISP software and configure a manual dialup connection to MSN ISP. Good Luck

The online game integration is nothing more than links that can log you in via your passport account to the MSN Games website. I was under the impression it was "integrated" and ran as some type of applet in Messenger.

I cannot connect to my msn messenger and i do not know how, i don't know my server or anything and i despereately need it to work and it is so stressing!None of the help pages seem to connect and when i troubleshoot it it says nothing is wrong. I am confused and i wanted to know if you could help.

Well, I spent 25 or so minutes downloading this on dial up yesterday, and now it will not sign in (it did earlier) and M$ has apparently pulled it! I don't want to download 6.1 (i had it, but had to reformat for the 3rd time.... I love my mac :D) again, just to have M$ rerelease 6.2! Any reasons for them pulling 6.2?

I'm a student living in S'pore, a country in Asia. I've also faced problems since upgrading my old computer to XP not long ago. Sometimes when I leave my computer to do other stuff and return, the problem comes - i can't say anything to any of my contacts. They'll be a message saying 'Message couldn't be delivered'. Then I signed out of my Messenger account and signed in again. However, I couldn't get in and I teid troubleshooting. They said I probably do not have a Internet connection. That's NOT true. I opened my Internet and everything's working in there. The only way to solve the problem for me now is to re-boot the computer. Well,is there another solution? Thank you! =)

I got an update notice yesterday for MSN Messenger and after I did it I suddenly couldn't connect. I uninstalled and reinstalled and still can not connect. Two other people I know did the update and had similar problems. DO NOT update you messenger if it is working until this problem is resolved!

Hi, I have a problem using MSN Messenger 6.2. I can install it with no problems, but when I try to run it from my start up menu, an error message pops up saying that MSN Messenger may not be configured corrctly. I use DSL, so I don't know if that has anything to do with the problem now, but it worked before, even when I used DSL. If anyone has any feed back, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

help me i hve msn 6.2 but i want 6.1 and i cant seem to find it anywhere to downlaod if i do instead it msn 6.2 comnes up, which im not obviously interested in please help !

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im sure im not the opnly one with this problem but everytime i try and sign into msn messenger 6.2 a pop up thing comes up and says something abotu troubleshoot and the connection is not there but i have highspeed and its on all the itme, help me please

Nice piece of cheerleading for Microsoft's latest "tie everything together, drive them all to Microsoft services, and OOPS, there's critical exploits in those new features" push. Tired of that, it makes me furious. If MS added features people wanted, when they ASK for them, fine. But once again, it's simply What's Good For Microsoft. Bah...