Instant Messaging - IM | Open Social

Standards Based Development

Windows Messenger

Windows Messenger is an im client that shipped with XP; created as a streamlined and integrated version of msn Messenger.

Development on Messenger has ceased except for security updates, as its been superseded by Windows Live Messenger, for connections to the Microsoft Messenger Service, and by Microsoft Lync (formerly Microsoft Office Communicator).

Note: not related to Windows Messenger Service, which was a service for NT designed for lans.

Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger (formerly msn Messenger is a deprecated im client that connected to the Microsoft Messenger Service, Yahoo! Messenger, and Facebook Messenger.

Originally released as msn Messenger on 1999-07-22, it marketed the msn brand until 2005 when it was rebranded under Windows Live.

Messenger has Moved to Skype; On 6 November 2012, Microsoft announced that Messenger and Skype services would merge in the first quarter of 2013, with users of Messenger client software moving to Skype. On 8 January 2013, Microsoft emailed Messenger users and informed them that with the exception of mainland China, the Messenger service would stop working on 15 March 2013 and users would not be able to sign in.

Microsoft Lync

Microsoft Lync and Microsoft Lync for Mac are im clients used with Microsoft Lync Server/Lync Online, available with Microsoft Office 365 and Live@Edu. They replaced Windows Messenger which had been used with Microsoft Exchange Server.

Microsoft Lync Server

Microsoft Lync Server is enterprise server software that replaced the Microsoft Office Communications Server.

People (Microsoft People)

People superceded Windows Live Contacts in 2012, but was also previously known as Windows Live People. People is bundled tightly with Outlook.com, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Profile as it provides users access to their contacts profiles/information.

Windows Live Call

Windows Live Call was a part of Window's Live Services; it's integratioin into WIndows Live Messenger allowed users to make pc-to-pc and pc-to-Phone voice/video calls.

Windows Live Call was discontinued on 2010 06 01 after the Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 release no longer provided VoIP functionality.

Microsoft Account

Microsoft Account (previously Microsoft Wallet, Microsoft Passport, .NET Passport, Microsoft Passport Network, and most recently Windows Live ID) is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log into many websites using one account.

Yahoo! Messenger

Yahoo! Messenger (aka y!m or ym) is an ad-supported im client associated with Yahoo!'s protocol.

Yahoo! Messenger was originally launched 1998 03 09 under the name Yahoo! Pager.

uri Scheme

y!m installs an extra uri scheme ("protocol") handler for some browsers in order to implement functionality in uris beginnging with ymsgr:, which is to open a new y!m window with specified parameters.

ymsgr: is similar in function with the mailto: uri scheme, which creates a new e-email message using the system's default e-mail program.

The example below will open a new window for sending a message to the yim user notarealuser:

In the following example, a message body is specified, denoted by the m parameter:

IMVironments ("imvs")

IMVironments are interactive backgrounds that can be added to y!m conversations.

ymsgr: Protocol Commands

  • ymsgr:sendim?yahooid
  • ymsgr:addfriend?yahooid
  • ymsgr:sendfile?yahooid
  • ymsgr:call?yahooid
  • ymsgr:callPhone?phonenumber
  • ymsgr:chat - Will open up a chat room list
  • ymsgr:im - Will open up a "Send an im new window
  • ymsgr:customstatus?A+custom+status - Will change your status message.
  • ymsgr:getimv?imvname - loads an IMVironment, example: ymsgr:getimv?doodle, ymsgr:getimv?yfighter

aim (aolim)

aim oscar Protocol

Open System for CommunicAtion in Realtime is aol's flagship im and prescense information protocol and is used on both of aol's main im systems: icq and aim.