Windows Live Messenger for iPhone

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/microsoft-puts-messenger-on-the-app-store.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...tm_campaign=rss</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"As has been rumored for a while now, Microsoft has released Windows Live Messenger for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad in the US, Canada, UK, and France. The app is available for download from the iTunes App Store."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1277253674.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>Available now for free in the iTunes App Store [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/windows-live-messenger/id376196406?mt=8" target="_blank">link</a>].</p>

[crimsonsky]

Do people actually still use IM? I don't know a single person who does. It's all texting or Twitter & Facebook.

[Jeff Campbell]

Periodically I will, but certainly not enough to have an app on my iPhone for it :)

[Jason Dunn]

Do people actually still use IM? I don't know a single person who does. It's all texting or Twitter & Facebook.

Sure, I do. Twitter is great, but having conversations in public isn't always a great idea - and direct messages being limited to 140 characters sucks. Facebook is another option, but unless you're doing a Facebook chat, it's not real-time. IM is still the best way for me to have a solid conversation with someone.

[encece]

My IM conversations are few and far between these days.

Facebook isn't fun unless you have friends and family on facebook.
Twitter is more fun when you're reading others posts and not just writing your own.

IM used to be fun for me when everyone I knew had AIM.
Later WLM was my preferred IM client...but I still needed AIM, Yahoo, and GChat accounts to keep connected with others. THAT was the downfall of IM. Sure there are multi-client apps...but that's still too much to manage and keep up with.

Now that most family and friends are on twitter and facebook (I hate Facebook, btw) IM has little purpose for me. Important and immediate conversations warrant a simple phonecall or even a video call. And for video calls, I prefer skype.