As you may have heard, Microsoft is changing their Messenger servers on October 15 and users will be locked out if they are not running an updated version of the software. As a result users of 3rd party software like Trillian and even previous versions of Microsoft's software will be in the dark until they upgrade.
The new desktop version has been available for a while now and can be retrieved from Microsoft's website. The new Pocket PC version has also just been
released (see
Pocket PC Thoughts for more coverage on this). So what about Smartphone users? Well here is what the Microsoft
website has to say:
"Microsoft is working with its mobile operator partners to make updates available for all Windows Mobile-based Smartphones soon. We apologize for any service interruptions. MSN® Messenger is the only feature impacted by this update. Some Windows Mobile-based Smartphones will be compatible with the new protocol out-of-the-box and customers will not need to take any action in order to access MSN Messenger after October 15."What this seems to mean is that the new devices expected to launch later this year will have a working version of Messenger in ROM. Existing Smartphone owners we are left waiting for their mobile operator to work with Microsoft on providing an update. We have been told by Microsoft that the update does in fact exist for Smartphone but it needs some final tweaks before being released to mobile operators. Once the operators have it, they will distribute it to their customers. It remains to be seen what will happen to customers whose devices are not tied to a mobile operator.
While I am disturbed by the thought of being unable to use Messenger on my phone for an unknown number of weeks, I see this as an indicator of larger problems. Clearly this is the work of poor planning and a lack of inter-department communication at Microsoft. Nobody in the Mobile Devices group could possibly see this premature October 15 cutoff as a being a good decision. Given that the chosen date is entirely arbitrary, my suspicion is that this decision was made elsewhere in the company where the Smartphone platform was simply overlooked. This does not reflect well on Microsoft or the Smartphone platform. If they intend for these devices to be successful in proliferating throughout the market, the devices first need to proliferate throughout Microsoft. The decision makers and planners in all branches of the company need to be familiar with the Smartphone platform and its basic capabilities. Then they need to apply that knowledge when organizing things such as this.
I find it hard to believe that this could not have been avoided through better planning and communication. Let's just hope that it is resolved quickly, smoothly, and that actions are taken to prevent similar things from happening in the future.
MSN Messenger Requires Updating, Smartphone Users To Be Left Waiting
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