Feature comparison

Apr 30, 2010 15:26 GMT  ·  By

Although there are no Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 Beta bits available for download at this point in time, the Preview website made available by Microsoft delivers more than enough details on the upcoming release of WLM to at least give a taste of what’s coming. One piece of information on the site is the Windows Live Messenger Competitive Comparison Chart. Yes, it is essentially an instant messaging client measuring contest. The complete chart is included at the end of this article, but also available via the new Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 preview website.

The comparison involves the upcoming version of Windows Live Messenger, and rival IM clients such as Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Google Chat and Google Talk, ICQ, AIM and Facebook. The conclusion, which can be immediately drawn from the chart is that Windows Live Messenger is by far superior to alternative solutions such as Skype, Google Chat and Google Talk, ICQ, AIM and Facebook.

Yahoo Messenger is in fact the only IM client that manages to come close to Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 in terms of features, while still lacking video messages, status by category, rich status messages, status message synchronization, social updates from email, social updates notifications, iPhone app, Nokia app and access to APIs. For a complete list of the fresh features offered by Windows Live Messenger Wave 4, please read Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 New Features.

“Windows Live Messenger is one of the world’s most popular ways to stay in touch with over 320 million active users every month who send 10 billion messages to one another every day. The new Messenger provides great ways to have more meaningful and efficient conversations while also bringing together your social networks and sharing updates, cutting through the clutter, and staying up to date with your favorite friends. And Messenger integrates into the things you’re already doing, so you can stay in touch not only from your PC, but also from across the Web and your mobile phone,” Microsoft noted.

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