View source for Windows Messenger

{{Short description|Instant messaging client}}
{{Distinguish|Windows Live Messenger|Windows Messenger service}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2009}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = Windows Messenger
| logo                   = Windows Messenger XP Icon.png
| logo_size              = x64px
| screenshot             = WM4.7ConversationWindow.png
| screenshot_size        = 300px
| caption                = A conversation in Windows Messenger 4.7.2009, with sidebar and toolbar enabled.
| developer              = [[Microsoft]]
| released               = {{Start date and age|2001|10|22}}<ref name=":4" /><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2001|title=.NET Messenger Service - Features|url=http://messenger.msn.com/support/features.asp?client=0|access-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011028001124/http://messenger.msn.com/support/features.asp?client=0|archive-date=October 28, 2001}}</ref>
| latest release version = 5.1.0715
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2008|08|12}}<ref name=":0"></ref>
| replaced_by            = [[Windows Live Messenger]]
| operating system       = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| website                = {{URL|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20030805054020/www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/default.asp|2=microsoft.com/windows/messenger}} (archived pages link August 2003)
}}
'''Windows Messenger''' is a [[Discontinued software|discontinued]] [[instant messaging client]] included in [[Windows XP]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=October 22, 2001|title=Messenger now officially available for Windows XP|url=https://www.neowin.net/news/messenger-now-officially-available-for-windows-xp|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=Neowin|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 27, 2001|title=Windows XP launched in three editions|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/3439_windows-xp-launched-in-three-editions|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=afaqs!}}</ref> Designed for use by both corporate and home users, it was originally created, in 2001, as a streamlined and integrated version of [[MSN Messenger#MSN Messenger 1.0–7.5 (1999–2005)|MSN Messenger]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=October 11, 2001|title=Microsoft has a new message for Win XP|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-has-a-new-message-for-win-xp/|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref> It was upgraded several times when it was made available for [[Windows 2000]] and [[Windows Server 2003]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2, 2003|title=Get Windows Messenger 5.0|website=[[Microsoft]]|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/download.asp|access-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002113304/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/download.asp|archive-date=October 2, 2003}}</ref> Since then, its development stopped.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=August 12, 2008|title=How to obtain the latest version of Windows Messenger 5.1|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/899283/how-to-obtain-the-latest-version-of-windows-messenger-5-1|url-status=live|archive-date=August 2, 2019|access-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802131920/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/899283/how-to-obtain-the-latest-version-of-windows-messenger-5-1}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=February 8, 2005|title=Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-009 - Critical|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2005/ms05-009|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref> It was superseded by [[MSN Messenger|Windows Live Messenger]] and [[Skype for Business|Microsoft Lync]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=MSFT Annual Report 2006|url=https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar06/staticversion/10k_fr_bus_01.html|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=www.microsoft.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=November 1, 2005|title=Microsoft Previews New Windows Live and Office Live Services|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2005/11/01/microsoft-previews-new-windows-live-and-office-live-services/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Stories|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Overview==
Windows Messenger was introduced in [[Windows XP]] on October 22, 2001.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 8, 2001|title=CNN.com - Sci-Tech - Microsoft to embed Messenger in Windows XP|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/06/08/xp.messenger.idg/index.html|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 11, 2001|title=Windows Messenger Update for Windows XP to Enable Consumers To Make PC-to-Phone Calls|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2001/10/11/windows-messenger-update-for-windows-xp-to-enable-consumers-to-make-pc-to-phone-calls/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Stories|language=en-US}}</ref> It is enabled by default.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disable/Uninstall Windows Messenger in Windows XP – Smallvoid.com|date=October 12, 2002 |url=https://smallvoid.com/article/windows-messenger-settings.html|access-date=August 7, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref> Its features include [[instant messaging]], presence awareness, support for [[Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP), file transfer, application sharing and [[whiteboarding]].<ref name="auto"/> Later versions added "ink" support and integration with [[Microsoft Lync Server]] (formerly Microsoft Office Communications Server). Windows Messenger's user interface is devoid of the clutter seen in [[Windows Live Messenger]]. Winks, nudges, and custom emoticons are unavailable, and the main user interface more closely resembles the standard Windows XP [[Luna (theme)|Luna]] style.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 12, 2001|title=Windows Messenger Tweaked for XP Launch|url=https://betanews.com/2001/10/12/windows-messenger-tweaked-for-xp-launch/|access-date=August 14, 2020|website=BetaNews|language=en}}</ref>

Windows Messenger integrates with [[Microsoft Exchange Server]], [[Microsoft Outlook]], [[Outlook Express]], [[Remote Assistance]] and [[Windows Media Center]] in Windows XP. Windows Messenger can communicate with the Exchange Server 2000's Instant Messaging Service and [[Microsoft Messenger service|Microsoft Messenger Service]]. Interoperability with third-party software is exposed through a COM API called the ''Real Time Communications (RTC) Client API''.

Development of Windows Messenger was halted after version 5.1 in favor of [[MSN Messenger|Windows Live Messenger]] and [[Microsoft Lync]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

==See also==
* [[Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients]]
* [[Comparison of instant messaging protocols]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899283 |title=How to obtain the latest version of Windows Messenger 5.1 |work=Support |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=August 12, 2008 |access-date=April 23, 2009 |edition=4.0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025151941/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899283 |archive-date=October 25, 2008}}
* {{cite web |title=How to prevent Windows Messenger from running on a Windows XP-based computer |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302089 |website=Support |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=July 2, 2010 |edition=9.0 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724185259/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302089|archive-date=July 24, 2010}}
* {{cite web |title=Windows Messenger 5.1: Windows Messenger vs MSN Messenger: What's the Difference? |work=Download Center|publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=April 5, 2005|url = http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11802|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910151737/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11802|archive-date=September 10, 2012}}
{{Refend}}

{{Instant messaging}}
{{Windows Components}}

[[Category:Windows-only freeware]]
[[Category:Windows-only instant messaging clients]]
[[Category:Windows components|Messenger]]
[[Category:Freeware]]
[[Category:Defunct instant messaging clients]]
[[Category:Discontinued Windows components]]