Many companies use Windows Live Messenger for corporate IM because it’s free and comes with pretty much any Windows computer they purchase. Windows Mobile users have had mobile IM love for awhile, but BlackBerry users have been left out, at least as far as official messengers go. They had already been promised an official client, and today Microsoft published it. Also included is live Hotmail support, for those who still use it. Go and download it, BlackBerry addicts, if you haven’t already. [Download, via Ars]
If you’ve been reading all about the Mobile Me rollout with scorn for its Apple-ness, Microsoft just opened up more preview slots for its Live Mesh service that similarly syncs files and info across all of your devices in the cloud (including Macs–later). While the service can be a bit hard to parse at times, its breadth of device coverage and open API look promising. Jump in with your Windows Live account now before spots run out. [Live Mesh via All About Microsoft]
Reader Don sends in this fantastic tip about a Google Street View car actually driving around and taking pictures inside a Microsoft campus. The GooCar—shown here photographed by Microsoftees—wasn’t just covering regular roads, they were going in-between buildings and getting as many angles as they could of the campus. That’s ballsy. What’s even funnier, says Don, is that the Google guys were driving around the team that does Windows Live Maps, like nothing was wrong, when other Microsoft guys were laughing and yelling at them. Much nerd hilarity ensued. [Thanks Don!]
If you play in the Windows Live sandbox (Hotmail, Messenger, Live Contacts and Spaces) and use a Nokia S60 phone, your life just got easier. Available today in a whole buncha places it wasn’t before, the Windows Live app for S60 syncs your Live contacts and Hotmail account with the phone’s address book and mail client (not push though), and lets you do pretty much all the regular Messenger stuff from your phone, like send pictures or files. And it’s all intemagrated. If you wind up installing, let us know how it goes. [Windows Live]
In addition to the big Bold BlackBerry news at RIM’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium, the company announced it would finally support Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger, says Crave. This includes push, realtime sync and full HTML support, plus an “almost PC-like” Messenger experience, with file transfers, custom status messages and cartoon emoticons. Like the Bold itself, this service is due in the vague “this summer” timeframe. Ironically, this might actually be more than what Microsoft itself is doing for poor old Hotmail. [Crave]
In a move that’s sure to make the EU giddy at the possibility of levying more fines, Microsoft’s been circulating some internal memos brainstorming ways to better connect the next version of Windows with the next version of Windows Live. The author dreams of a system where each user can log into their Live accounts (usually your @hotmail.com address) and be automatically connected as you’re setting up your computer for the first time.
Microsoft’s Windows Live package has just dropped out of beta development. The released package contains various desktop programs for email, IM, blogging and photo sharing. The Windows Live Mail app will allow for email account convergence between most popular email providers, including Gmail and AOL. Direct Flickr photo uploads and blog writing tools are also included within the software suite. Except for the mildly interesting new package, what else is on offer? Well, Microsoft is dropping brand spanking new email addresses with the @live.com domain.
Nokia is offering Windows Live software—including Hotmail, Messenger and more—for anyone with a Nokia N73, N76, N80, N93i and N95. Let’s just hope the apps work better than they do on some Windows Mobile 6 devices. [Ars]
