Launched on August 24, 1995, MSN coincided with the release of the Windows 95. Microsoft has been continuously updating MSN services and features since its launch. The hotmail webmail was the first service msn update. It was followed by the instant messenger service MSN Messenger, and the Windows Live Messenger is the latest msn update service that has replaced MSN Messenger. Formerly known as MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger (WLM) is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Mobile. It is part of Microsoft's Windows Live set of online services.



The WLM beta msn update came as WLM msn update 8.0 Beta 1, WLM msn update 8.0 Beta 2, and WLM msn update 8.0 Beta 3. The msn update 8.0, Released June 19, 2006, adds a number of subtle but welcome improvements in Windows Live Messenger. It solidifies the ISP's spot ahead of AOL. The easier-to-find parental access controls, better junk-mail filters, and a few interface and performance tweaks gives msn update 8.0 an edge over AOL 8.0.

The Windows Live Messenger msn update 8.0 version has all features of Beta version, for example offline conversations, the possibility to share files with other users, a new user interface, and much more. It runs on Windows XP and later releases.

The current Windows Live Messenger msn update 8.1 was released on January 29, 2007. The MLM msn update 8.1 version offers new features that include improvements for Windows Vista compatibility, roaming Display Pictures and Personal Messages (it means that the Display Picture is stored on Windows Live servers and will not change if you log in from another computer), and support for lower bandwidth connections when attempting to use Verizon web calling to make a PC to Phone call.

The other MLM msn update 8.1 additions include a "Sign out" button in the status menu, a new Messenger buddy emoticon, and new menus for Winks, Emoticons, Backgrounds and Display Pictures. Additionally, the e-mail button was modified slightly, it no longer says that you have 0 e-mails (by showing a number in brackets beside the button), it will only show a number if you have one or more e-mails. Remote desktop is still supported but the entire desktop is shared, with no ability to select individual applications.