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Messenger Presence Feature – Coming Soon

Sep 13, 2007 9:36 pm by Matthew | 11 comments

MSN At Mix UK Danny Thorpe and Angus Logan gave us a first look at a new feature that’s coming soon, dubbed Messenger Presence. Users of the Web2Messenger service will already be familiar with the concept of this, as basically it means you can set up your account to allow anonymous messages from the web, which people would send to you from a “Messenger window” on your website/blog.

When the feature becomes available, you would go to the settings page on the net for it and select that you would like to enable this feature, you can then create the html that will go on your website/blog. This will allow people to see when you’re online and allow them to then start up a conversation with you.

So what does all this look like? This:

So from those we can see the procedure that has to be taken for someone to start a conversation with you using the web client on your website/blog. But what does that look like from your end?

We get an anonymous addressed contact sending you a message. What you can then do is start having a full conversation with this person if you choose:

Now, this isn’t going to be for everybody. Because you will be allowing people to start a conversation with you via the web you are opening up your Messenger service to show your presence Anonymously and receive messages.

Update: Apparently this will be called Messenger IM Control

This entry was posted in News and tagged IM Control, Messenger, Messenger Presence. Bookmark the permalink.

Nick
Wow, this looks cool. Me wants now!!!
parker.cook
this looks pretty cool, i can see how it would be use
whitetern
This could be a cool add-on to weblogs
DN2004
This sounds interesting, however I am wondering about a few things;
- Can this system be abused e.g. send the person spam
- Will you have to login to Windows Live ID to use it?
- Will there be measures to block certain individuals messaging you?
Khristopher
Wow this is so cool! Can’t wait to try this out.
CalumJR
To answer DN2004′s question:
It doesn’t look like you have to sign in with your Windows Live ID, because on one of the screenshots it says “Enter a display name OR sign in with your Windows Live ID”
Screenshot:
http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/MessengerPresenceFeatureComingSoon_B711/image003_2.png
Alber1690
Good sign of intergration…
ScottIsAFool
@DN2004: No, you don’t have to sign in with your WLID. To start a conversation you have to put in a code (like when you sign up for a Live ID). And you can’t block certain individuals from messaging you, its either everyone can, or no-one can, there’s no in between. If you look at the screenshot of the actual messenger window, you’ll see an auto generated address, that will change each time, so there’s no way of blocking.
Sunshine
I wonder if there has to be a status image on the web applet/client…i’d rather have people not know my status so i get to choose to answer or not without the other end getting angry/annoyed when I don’t (if on “online”)….I do like some web privacy :P
Another thing i wonder about is if this will support offline messages.
alogan
DN2004:
- Can this system be abused e.g. send the person spam
—-> there is a capthca/human interactive proof which stops bots from being able to SPIM (Spam over IM)
- Will you have to login to Windows Live ID to use it?
—-> No – you can do this as a “visitor” or you can sign in to send a message.
- Will there be measures to block certain individuals messaging you?
—-> No because this is designed to be placed on your blog or a website so people not on your buddy list can contact you. Therefore we can’t block certain people as they aren’t authenticated.
alogan
Sunshine:
I wonder if there has to be a status image on the web applet/client…i’d rather have people not know my status so i get to choose to answer or not without the other end getting angry/annoyed when I don’t (if on “online”)….I do like some web privacy :P
–> If your presence isn’t displayed they won’t know to start a conversation with you. You can always untick this feature (which you opt in to).
Another thing i wonder about is if this will support offline messages.
—> Offline messages are not supported