Two IM Clients for Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile devices already allow users to exchange instant messages and presence information with other users of Microsoft’s consumer-oriented MSN Messenger service. However, this client cannot connect to Live Communications Server (LCS), and the new business-oriented Office Communicator Mobile client cannot communicate with MSN Messenger users (unless the user’s organization has federated its LCS system with MSN Messenger.) However, the two clients can peacefully coexist on the same Windows Mobile device.

Although the current MSN Messenger client preinstalled on Windows Mobile devices does not support Voice over IP (VoIP), the current MSN Messenger 7.5 client for PCs does support VoIP calls with other MSN users. Its successor—which will be called Windows Live Messenger 8 and is currently in beta—will have even greater VoIP support. Through a partnership with MCI (recently acquired by Verizon), the Windows Live Messenger 8 client and service will support outbound VoIP calls to public switched telephone network numbers for a small fee.