Windows Live Messenger is name of the next version of MSN Messenger. I started using the Windows Live Messenger beta recently, some cool new features have been added. You can Get the Windows Live Messenger beta and have real-time text, video and voice conversations, make free PC-to-PC calls with other Messenger users, and share files with Sharing Folders. Check out the Inside Windows Live Messenger blog where you will find news and tips from the Messenger team members.

We recently posted the document Business Opportunity for Building Applications with Windows Live and MSN Messenger on msdn.com/live with information on various ways to monetize (make money or promote a business or web site) from creating bots and activities for Messenger. There are some cool new extensibility features coming in the next update of Windows Live Messenger beta for .NET developers, details to be posted when the next beta build is released online. There will be much more online about all these topics by mid June (Tech-Ed 2006).