Introduction

Windows Vista makes communicating with other computers over the Internet easier than ever with Windows Live Messenger (version 8). You can talk to others over the Internet (like you do on a telephone), use video to see and be seen by others while you converse, share programs and files, collaborate on documents, share graphical content on a whiteboard (a drawing canvas), and ask for or get remote online assistance from a contact.

You can use Windows Live Messenger (New!) to exchange instant messages with a designated list of contacts over the Internet. An instant message is an online typewritten conversation in real-time between two or more contacts. Unlike an e-mail message, instant messages require both parties to be online, and the communication is instantaneous. With Windows Live Messenger, you can send instant messages to any of your contacts who are online; have conversations with a group of friends; see the latest information about your contacts; see and hear your contacts; send and receive text messages with a mobile device; send a voice clip to express yourself personally; and save your conversations. In addition, you can make PC to telephone or PC to PC calls, share and update files with your friends using the Sharing folder, and connect with your friends who use Yahoo Messenger (New!).

Windows Live Messenger uses different services to exchange messages, files, and other information. The default service is .NET Messenger Service, which individuals mostly use. For those working in a corporate environment, Windows Live Messenger supports Communications Service for networks that use SIP-server technology and Exchange Instant Messaging for networks that use Microsoft Exchange Server. You can set up Windows Live Messenger to access more than one type of messaging service.