Com125 Assignment8: 'MSN web messenger' review application

The site: MSN Messenger
URL: http://webmessenger.msn.com

Functionality

MSN Messenger is a freeware instant messaging client that was developed and distributed by Microsoft in 1999 to 2005 and in 2007 for computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system (except Windows Vista), and aimed towards home users. It was renamed Windows Live Messenger in February 2006 as part of Microsoft's Windows Live series of online services and software. MSN Messenger is often used to refer to the .NET Messenger Service (the protocols and server that allow the system to operate) rather than any particular client (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Msn_messenger).

A discussion of the site’s design

Unlike other websites, MSN messenger provides a small screen sized a quarter of normal websites which makes convenient to open up the web browser while working on other websites. While you talk to others, you can customize the chat screen to whatever you want to make and send it to web-chat partners. Also, there is a number of emoticons available using IM such as smiley faces, winks and nudges which you can use on web chats by a click. On MSN messenger, you can see a lot of links which connect to the websites, so that you can check emails while on MSN messenger, easily link to the internet shopping website, or a game website. This is how it is designed for MSN Microsoft to advertise their products.

Social aspects

As soon as I get home, the first thing I do is turning on my laptop. While doing it, I am logging onto MSN messenger automatically. Also, after meeting a friend from a class or anywhere, one thing that I ask before I go home is, “Do you have a MSN ID?” Since the internet have provided a place to interact with people online, MSN messenger became so popular among friends and colleagues. We can talk online after classes and works. It gives us a different pleasure to communicate online with people compared to offline interactions. In that sense, MSN messenger keeps going our social ties and relationships interactive.

Not only keeping interactions with people, but MSN messenger is productive. While you log onto it, you can share mutimedia files between friends. Also, as soon as logging onto MSN web messenger, a little screen pops up and show news headlines of current hot issues. Thus, everyday MSN messenger provides somethings productive for me.

Beneficial aspects of MSN messenger

One of the great benefits of MSN messenger is a fast and convenient communication with others online. Even more, the conversations between me and others can be saved in computer hardware as well as all instant messages. Even if the message receivers are not online, you can still send instant messages, and they will be stored until the friend logs on and checks them out. At once, people can have multiple conversations with many friends. I have friends who I do not meet often physically, but I can still keep in touch with them for years through MSN messenger. MSN messenger is not only an online software which keeps people interactive, but it is where people share files and interests in the global wide.