Instant messaging

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Facebook Chat live in the UK
Work productivity levels set to drop 23 April 2008 11:14 GMT
Facebook's "Chat" instant messaging service has been rolled out across the UK this morning. The service offers a more immediate way to communicate with Facebook buddies than the current email-like set-up.

Users of the social utility will now see a Chat toolbar...
"Facebook Chat" confirmed as coming within weeks
As well as great privacy controls 19 March 2008 10:33 GMT
Following rumours swirling around cyberspace, Facebook has confirmed new features for the site, including an instant messaging feature that will allow live chat between users.

Facebook plans to roll out new privacy features this week that will give users more...
Facebook to launch own instant messaging service
Chat without third party apps 17 March 2008 10:48 GMT
Facebook has been testing a new instant messaging service and will be launching it to the public soon, perhaps this week, Techcrunch reports.

The suggestion is that the service will be an "in-house" Facebook tool, built into user's Facebook pages to enable...
USB missile launcher gets MSN hook up
Next-gen office warfare lets you shoot your messenger buddies 4 January 2008 10:08 GMT
Brando offers this staple of office gadgetry, the good old USB missile launcher, in a variety of guises - but this version has got to be the best.

The "new generation" of launcher now works with MSN. So, if you get one, and your MSN buddy gets one too, as well...
i-Buddy embodies your Live Messenger mate's activites
A "physical representation" of your bestest MSN buddy 4 October 2007 22:12 GMT
Looks like someone paid close attention to the Availabot prototype as here is the i-Buddy designed for use with Windows Live Messenger.

A USB gadget, the i-Buddy is a "physical representation" of your most favourite Live Messenger buddy.

You can...
DJ's "Messenger Mix" available to download free
Mix of Live Messenger sounds is set to be a summer hit? 30 August 2007 8:45 GMT
DJ David Guetta has created a tune by mixing instantly
recognisable Messenger sounds to create the "Mix Messenger".

It's now available to download for free (well, we can't see anyone paying for this nonsense) via the link below.

Guetta's...
Microsoft patents instant messaging on your TV
Wot u watchin? 14 August 2007 17:27 GMT
Microsoft has patented a version of its instant messaging service that is designed to work on your television, DVD or media player.

Not only will it keep track of everything you've watched, but it will let you chat to your messaging buddies while you watch...
Voiis Mini Pocket Messenger Phone launches in Japan
Music streaming, VoIP calling, IMing convergance 14 June 2007 8:25 GMT
The Axes Voiis Mini has launched in Japan where it is available for around $130. But what the devil is it?

Is it an MP3 player? Is it a VoIP phone? A hand-held IMing device? It's all of the above, sort of.

Relying entirely on Bluetooth connectivity,...
Yahoo Messenger integrates IM into browser
Yahoo opts to help Messengers without IM software 3 May 2007 14:41 GMT
Coming to a browser near you is Yahoo's new tool that will allow its instant messaging service in a web browser without the need of IM software.

Also working with Microsoft's MSN, the browser function is designed for someone without immediate access to the IM...
Vodafone and Microsoft to link messenging services
New co-branded service in development 13 February 2007 14:27 GMT
It looks as though Vodafone has stuck its fingers into a lot of pies recently. Today it's released an announcement with Microsoft to say that they're working together to launch a co-branded, seamless Instant Messaging service for PC and mobile.

The service will...
Yahoo integrates Messenger into Mail
And releases a new version of Yahoo Go 2.0 13 February 2007 11:42 GMT
Yahoo has announced changes to two of its services, Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0.

The company is inserting Yahoo Messenger into the latest version of Yahoo Mail, which is still in beta.

The service is rolling out across its network of...
Highly critical flaw found in Yahoo Messenger
Users should download most up-to-date version 15 December 2006 16:45 GMT
Yahoo Messenger users are being encouraged to download the latest version of the application to fix a bug in the previous version.

Users who are using a version of Yahoo Messenger downloaded before 2 November have a version that contains a bug in the way it...
A third of instant messaging teens couldn't imaging life with IM
Survey finds teens more likely to use IM than adults 11 December 2006 10:31 GMT
Teenagers are more reliant on instant messaging that adults, a new survey by AOL and AP has found.

This will come as a shock to no one, as many teenagers are reliant on IM to keep their social life active. The survey was conducted online with a sample of around...
UK man charged with "web-rage" attack
Flame gone bad 17 November 2006 15:05 GMT
Next time you are about to flame someone on a chat room make sure you really think about what you are about to do. Today a man has been convicted in what is being described as the UK's first "web-rage" attack.

Paul Gibbons, 47, from south London, has been jailed...
Mobile network 3 to provide Windows Live Messenger for free
Hugely popular chat service now available to contract customers without charge for life 30 October 2006 16:47 GMT
Mobile network provider 3 has announced that its members can now use Windows Live Messenger for free.

Taking stock of the number of messages sent through the MSN service since August, 3 found that over 100 million had been transmitted and received, which shows...
Researchers develop morphing software for image-based emoticons
Users can use their own image to project emoticons 4 October 2006 13:33 GMT
Researchers at Bournemouth University have developed software that changes a photo of a person’s face to create emoticons for instant messaging.

The idea is that emoticons that show people’s facial expressions will be enriching to the chat experience. The software...
Google Talk now free to all
No need to have a Gmail account 29 September 2006 12:06 GMT
Google has announced that it is now making its Google Talk instant messaging service free for all.

Previously the search engine had restricted its use to Gmail account users only, however from today anyone is able to use the service to talk to others for free...
Microsoft releases first Universal application: Messenger for Mac 6.0
Instant chat on Apple Mac gets upgradge 28 September 2006 0:21 GMT
Microsoft has released its first Universal application: Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.

The new version, which works on both Intel and the company's older machines adds a number of new features to the instant messenger software.

New features include...
Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger start to chat
Two services unite their networks 27 September 2006 16:20 GMT
Yahoo and Microsoft are knitting their networks more tightly together as they announce that Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger are now connected.

The new joint instant messaging community forms the world’s largest IM network with nearly 350 million user...
New worm spreads through AOL Instant Messenger
Attack comes from contacts on a user's buddy list 20 September 2006 16:27 GMT
Computer security analyst FaceTime has found a nasty hack that uses AOL Instant Messenger to install malware on targeted computers.

The worm, called W32.pipeline, conceals itself by looking like a harmless Jpeg that a known online buddy sends with the message,...
Microsoft teams up with law enforcement to protect kids on IM
One button takes children straight to law enforcement website 21 August 2006 17:07 GMT
Microsoft has developed a new safety feature in its instant messenger services to make it easier for children and adults to report suspicious behaviour.

One click from the instant messenger window lets users report to police if they’re concerned that the person...
Yahoo and Microsoft join forces in messaging pact
Communications platform with 350 million users created 13 July 2006 11:01 GMT
Yahoo! and Microsoft are making their instant messaging systems capable of communicating with each other to create a communications platform with some 350 million user accounts.

The interoperability — the first of its kind between two distinct, global consumer...
Availbot is a more lively way to see who's online
Clever little protype alerts you to the presence of your buddies online 28 June 2006 16:56 GMT
Looking for something to plug into your extra USB socket? Look no further: the design shop Schulze and Webb bring you the Availbot.

Designed by a graduate of the RCA's Interaction Design programme, the Availbot is a little figure that resembles a Lego man and...
Mobile network 3 unveils new low-price Mobile Mail service
Basic service costs just £2.50 22 June 2006 17:20 GMT
The mobile network 3 is launching two new mobile email services for consumers as well as business users, to make it easier and cheaper for customers to check mail on the go.

The new services make use of "pushmail", where email is delivered to your regular inbox...
Microsoft takes on Skype with the launch of Windows Live Messenger
Upgrade to MSN Messenger includes VoIP service and video chat 20 June 2006 11:52 GMT
Microsoft is upping the ante on VoIP tie-ins with the launch of its new Windows Live Messenger.

Essentially an revamp of MSN Messenger, the IM service now offers VoIP calling as well as full-screen video chat thanks to Microsoft's new LifeCams that were launched...