Messenger 7

Microsoft has announced its new free Messenger 7.0 software, releasing the final product along with the finished version of an online scrapbook service it has been testing, MSN Spaces.

With MSN Messenger 7.0, Microsoft wants to equal and better other IM software through its own free PC-to-PC video calls for users with a Web cam, in addition to free voice calls. The video call feature uses technology from Web cam maker Logitech to synchronise audio and video streams. Users can watch a video in the Messenger window or get up close and personal in full-screen mode. We also liked that in addition to including a variety of interface improvements, MSN Messenger 7.0 also now lets users search chats, automatically let people know what they're listening to, trade scribbled notes, send new flash-based winks, nudges and more. Microsoft also plans to incorporate a feature in coming months that will allow Messenger users to send messages to friends' mobile phones.

MSN Spaces, an online scrapbook, lets users post blogs, photo albums, music lists and other personalised information. Introduced in beta form in December, MSN Spaces now offers more storage space - allowing users to post around 750 photos - and a variety of backgrounds and personalisation options.