Up to now, I've been looking at Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger) not as a VoIP application but as a simple IM program. I wonder to what extent I was right, or wrong. It does offer free PC-to-PC calls and video-conferencing. But now it forms part of the VoIP softphone cohort.
Microsoft is offering the call-out feature to landlines and mobiles around the world (the equivalent of SkypeOut) over the Live Messenger. The VoIP operator ensuring this service is Telefonica. The rate is the only factor that could draw a part of the market from Skype - a call on Live Messenger is 7 cents less than one on SkypeOut. I could think the huge number of MSN users worldwide as being another possible factor for the success of this new service. However, it is worthy to note here that Microsoft had offered this kind of service before, with Net2Phone and Verizon, but it stopped after some time. Moreover, one definite drawback in this current service is the absence of a call-in feature like SkypeIn.
Microsoft is offering the call-out feature to landlines and mobiles around the world (the equivalent of SkypeOut) over the Live Messenger. The VoIP operator ensuring this service is Telefonica. The rate is the only factor that could draw a part of the market from Skype - a call on Live Messenger is 7 cents less than one on SkypeOut. I could think the huge number of MSN users worldwide as being another possible factor for the success of this new service. However, it is worthy to note here that Microsoft had offered this kind of service before, with Net2Phone and Verizon, but it stopped after some time. Moreover, one definite drawback in this current service is the absence of a call-in feature like SkypeIn.
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I just installed “Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta” but I can not figure out how to make a phone call with it! There is another icon called “Windows Live Call Beta” in my start menu but when I click that I just get an error message “Some features may not be available…” and nothing else. I will go back to Skype until MSFT figure out how to write usable software!
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