messenger

Kik on WP7 boosts iOS and Android growth

Windows Phone News

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Aug 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

This is interesting indeed. Kik, the cross-platform messenger, has seen a pretty neat ROI (return of investment) from investing in Windows Phone 7 since being released earlier this year. Not in terms of revenue, but user registration on iOS and Android. Yes, you read correctly - Kik for Windows Phone is reportedly boosting the user growth on other platforms.

Looking at the chart above we can see the point where the WP7 app was launched with the user count line for both iOS and Android. Notice the sharp increase? Can this be mere coincidence, or is it because WP7 users are now using Kik with friends on competing platforms that don't currently have an account?

If we look at the small graphic to the right, we can see how WP7 has been boosting the growth for iOS and Android by around 22%. While Microsoft's platform might not massive in terms of market share, it's certainly a socially connected OS and users are more connected.

Kik Interactive CEO, Ted Livingston, concludes:

"Windows Phone users may be a small segment of the whole, but they bring with them all their friends on other mobile platforms, creating a huge and unanticipated spike in Kik activity.

It’s time for cross-platform apps to start paying attention to Windows Phone 7."

Some strong words there. The future certainly is looking bright and this is exactly what we need prior to the launch of Mango.

Source: TechCrunch

Share music and video via Messenger in Mango [Video]

Windows Phone News

By Rich Edmonds, Monday, Aug 1, 2011 at 12:39 pm

MobileTechWorld has uncovered a pretty neat feature. We now know we can achieve music and video playback via SkyDrive, but we can also receive files via Messenger in Windows Phone "Mango". Specifically demoed in the above video is the receiving and playing of a music (wma/mp3) and video (wmv/mp4) file.

Unfortunately, as one can see there is no album art displayed and media files saved with this method don't appear in Music and Videos hub, so you'll have to return to the conversation to open up the file once again. This is pretty sweet for deeper integration into IM with users not having to resort to booting up a PC to receive files from a friend (but then again, who doesn't use email these days?)

Source: MobileTechWorld

IM+ now sports a free version

Apps

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Jul 19, 2011 at 8:09 pm

If you're among the IM+ users who purchased the app back when it was released with a price tag of $9.99, you were kicking yourself at the price drop to $4.99 that came soon after. Now prepare to kick yourself on another part of your body as SHAPE Services has just brought in a free (ad-supported) version of IM+.

The main app, which continues to set new buyers back $4.99, has been given a new title of IM+ Pro with the only noticeable difference between the two versions is being the placement of adverts - functionality appears to be fully implemented in the free offering. To get the free version, grab the link here in the Marketplace.

Source: Windows Phone Metro Thanks to the many who tipped us on this!

Kik Messenger for WP7 due "within a month"

Apps

By Daniel Rubino, Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 6:07 pm

We first caught wind of Kik Messenger for Windows Phone 7 during MIX11. At the time, it wasn't too clear when the popular messaging service would be available on our platform i.e. pre-Mango or during Mango launch?

Now it looks like they've answered on their Facebook account--all it took was someone to ask:

Alejandro Aguilera Rivera: Are you guys (by any chance) working on a Windows phone 7 app? is it possible? :D?

Kik Interactive, Inc.: You will see it within a month :)

So that sounds good to us. In fact, the race between IM+ and Kik seems to be heating up as we're expecting releases from both companies relatively soon, giving Windows Phone users some new options. Not to mention, there's that whole Mango-Live Messenger/Facebook Chat integration coming too.

Source: Facebook; Thanks, Alejandro, for the tip!

Mango brings messenger, threaded SMS, and Groups

Windows Phone News

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 3:23 pm

The first of the big announcements for the user end is Mango will be bringing messenger to Windows Phone 7, which will support groups and threaded chat. SMS conversations will also receive this threaded feature as well as the ability to group texts. Allows integrated communication to friends without running applications for specific tasks. Windows Live will see a more prominent presence.

Also on the groups note, Live Tiles for individual contacts will notify the user upon changes with alerts for new emails etc. from that specific contact.

Quick look: Kik Messenger for Windows Phone 7 [Video]

Windows Phone News

By Daniel Rubino, Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Today, Microsoft and partner Kik (see website) introduced and showed off Kik Messenger for Windows Phone 7. The app is expected to arrive "in the next few weeks". The IM program has over 3 million users on iPhone and Android, photo sharing and groups.

Here is a quick video tour of the app in action to get an idea of what to expect. Looks good to us.

Li'Messenger MSN client now in Marketplace

Windows Phone News

By RedNBlack77, Wednesday, Jan 26, 2011 at 5:14 pm

New to the Marketplace is C&R Holding's Li'Messenger, a chat client for both MSN and Facebook. The app communicates directly with Windows Live servers, for a private chatting experience. The best part is that it is free of charge. And unlike many free apps, Li'Messenger is also free of advertisements.

Li'Messenger supports Multiple Points of Presence, but due to its direct line to Windows Live servers, it does not receive notifications. It will, however, run in low-power mode while your phone is in lock-screen.

You can download Li'Messenger here.

Update: We just got word that this app has to be pulled from the Marketplace, so you may want to grab it now before it's gone. We're not sure why this is...

Source: C&R Holdings

Microsoft's Live Messenger headed to WP7

Windows Phone News

By George Ponder, Thursday, Oct 14, 2010 at 7:29 pm

Windows Phone 7 will be getting Live Messenger. It's the when and by whom that has become a bit of a mystery. Microsoft is farming out its development but now two developers have staked a claim for developing Live Messenger for Microsoft.

There were reports last month that Bewise was working on the application. Now, another developer, Miyowa, is stepping forward claiming they are developing the Windows Phone 7 application. This could mean that we'll have multiple Live Messenger applications to choose from, regional differences/releases (Miyowa is popular overseas) or simply that Microsoft changed developers at some point in the process.

Microsoft has alluded that Messenger would be a part of the Windows Phone 7. Earlier this week Chris Jones, Microsoft's VP for Windows Live Engineering posted, "Windows Phone 7 is the first device designed from the ground up with Windows Live in mind. Right from the start, you can enter your Windows Live ID on your phone, and it will connect over the air to Hotmail, Messenger, SkyDrive, and the rest of Windows Live."

Is it really an issue who develops the app? Isn't getting Live Messenger onto Windows Phone 7 the more important issue?

via: zdnet.com

Windows Live Messenger available for Zune

By George Ponder, Saturday, Oct 2, 2010 at 12:10 am

Microsoft has released Windows Live Messenger for the Zune HD. Messenger for the Zune will let you check out social updates from Facebook, Flickr, or MySpace and chat with your friends. It also supports Facebook Chat just like Messenger on your Windows PC.

Messenger is available for download through the Zune Marketplace and could be a good indicator on what Messenger on Windows Phone 7 might look like.

via: windowsteamblog

Review: Windows Live for Windows Phone

By Phil Nickinson, Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm

One of the things that have made Google’s Android platform such a strong player in the mobile space is the simple fact that Google has so many popular services. Google’s ability to tightly integrate these services into the Android experience is one of the things that is so appealing. Microsoft may have the numbers, but Google has everything neatly and seamlessly on Android, where Windows Mobile does not.

Think about it. Where Google has Google Search, Gmail and Google Talk; Microsoft has Bing, Hotmail/Live Mail, and Messenger. Though the similarities between the two giants are well documented, the way that they have approached the integration of their services into their mobile platforms couldn’t be more different. While Google makes use of their services bordering on mandatory (you have to have an account to even use an Android device), Microsoft has chosen to take a much more low key approach through Windows Live for Windows Phone.

Windows Live for Windows Phone hasn’t received much face time; but is worth a quick look, which is waiting on the other side of the break.

Pros:

Provides Push Email without needing Exchange. Supports Messenger chat. Free.

Cons:

Not enough support for Windows Live services. Bland appearance.

Messenger Applications: Bringing Everything Under One Roof

Software

By chris#wp, Saturday, Jan 3, 2009 at 3:30 am

A common complaint about branded phones is the grossly amount of

Live Services Come to RIM

Windows Phone News

By chris#wp, Saturday, Jan 3, 2009 at 3:26 am

Everyone knows that Windows Mobile has always been able to have some of the best options like Live Search and Windows Live. But what about the other makers. Remember how Nokia got Windows Live services? Well today once again Microsoft stepped into muddy waters in order to spread the joy.

That