Xbox Live Links to Messenger

After many years of partial integration, a free May 2007 update to Xbox Live will enable two-way instant messaging between Xbox Live gamers and Windows Live (formerly MSN) Messenger users on PCs or mobile phones. Microsoft will also release a USB thumb keyboard specifically designed for text messaging on Xbox Live, although other USB keyboards will work. The move shows how Microsoft could use its MSN and Windows Live services to stay ahead of console competitors Sony and Nintendo, which don’t have comparable online services.

Microsoft has dabbled with integrating these services before: in 2004 it introduced Xbox Live Alerts, which allowed gamers to send game notifications to MSN Messenger users on their PCs or phones, but this service was discontinued when the Xbox 360 was released. Also in 2004, Microsoft added an Xbox Live tab to the MSN Messenger client in some geographies, allowing Messenger users to check their Xbox Live friends list to see if they were online and playing a game. This function was disabled prior to the release of Xbox 360 and reappeared only in June 2006.