While the Microsoft search platform indicated signs of reinvigoration the past month, with combined results from Live Search and MSN jumping in the statistics, and increasing Microsoft footprint on the search engine market, the company's IM client is also delivering an equally healthy performance. According to the latest statistics, the number of Windows Live Messenger users in the United States increased by no less than 25%. The jump in audience experienced by the Redmond company's instant messaging client can be correlated with an initiative debuted at the beginning of March.

Via "I'm making a difference" users of Windows Live Messenger could help donate money to several organizations including the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Club, the National AIDS Fund, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ninemillion.org, the Sierra Club, StopGlobalWarming.org, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the US fund for UNICEF. And all they had to do was start a conversation with "I'm." The sole downside to the initiative is the fact that it is available exclusively to the U.S. Still, LiveSide reported that the funds have gone up to over $35,000.

According to data made available by metrics company comScore, the user growth rate of Windows Live Messenger has topped the average gains of Microsoft's competitors. Just from May to June, the user base of Windows Live Messenger jumped by 6.3%. But of course that it cannot all be related to the Redmond company's philanthropic initiative. At the end of January, concomitantly with the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft was also delivering Windows Live Messenger 8.1, designed to support the latest Windows operating system. Then at the end of May, users were able to access the beta version of Windows Live Messenger 8.5, created to seamlessly integrate with Vista. One of the most obvious changes, outside of the evolved Messenger Setup, is the instant messaging client's graphical user interface, updated to be in tune with Vista's Windows Aero.