Mac Messenger still trying to find its voice

Updated at 10:35 a.m. to note that the product has been released.

Microsoft released the latest version of its instant-messaging program for the Mac on Tuesday, though it still continues to trail its Windows counterpart when it comes to features.

The biggest change in Messenger 7 for Mac is the ability for corporate users running Office Communications Server to engage in video and audio chats with one another. For non-corporate users, the biggest changes are the ability to give nicknames to contacts and search within one's list of contacts.

Microsoft declined to offer any update on when video chat for consumers would arrive.

"We provided a look at our roadmap late last year and we remain on track--delivering A/V support to our corporate users and continuing to work with the Windows Live team to make A/V support available for (consumers)," senior marketing manager Amanda Lefebvre said in a statement.

Video chat has been available for some time on the Windows side and is a staple of Apple's iChat instant-messaging program, which is compatible with AOL's instant-messaging program, but not buddy lists from Yahoo or MSN/Windows Live.

I couldn't find a live link to Messenger 7 on Microsoft's Mac site on Tuesday, but I'll update the blog with a link when it goes live.

Update: It's now available from Microsoft's Mac downloads page and from CNET Download.com.

[sabeattie--2008]

It's available in the Downloads section

It's available in the Downloads section of the Mactopia web site.

[Ina Fried]

re: It's available

Yep. It was not when I first posted. I've updated the story and added a link.

Thanks,
Ina

[SixVodkas]

Messenger Mac 7 released

And no one noticed.

:)

[dbargen]

What, ppl still use MSN?

In my many circles of friends, the only ones that I know that use
MSN do so under protest when the networks at their schools block
AIM ports in the classrooms.

[Lee in San Diego]

Well we noticed it now

If I didn't have the earlier version installed and/or I wasn't using it
regularly I wouldn't know about any updates. That is one of the
reasons I read tech news sites, to find about new or updated
products.

[macoverdose_dot_com]

MS Messenger

what a piece of junk.

[jwesman]

Messenger 7 and Communicator

I have found today that our servers are using communicator 2005.
With this, it will not let us log in using Messenger 7. They should
have let it work with older communicators

[albemuth]

Why on earth would I use this instead of Adium?

Not only would my mac no longer be MS free, but would I also get
ads like the windows version?

http://www.adiumx.com/

[espeed623]

Why, Microsoft? WHY NO A/V FOR PERSONAL?!

I was really hoping for A/V features so that I wouldn't have to be
stuck using Windows for my A/V communication. But I guess M$
likes making the poor Mac user use Windows for A/V in Messenger.
I am disappointed in you, Microsoft. Don't create hype for features
that us non-corporates won't have.