Messenger updated

With the new features of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (formerly known as MSN Messenger), users can explore their "M" experience - going beyond just chatting sessions. They can create their own Web blog and allow the friends on their list to access a blog, then let them know whenever it is updated.

Grant Wattas, general manager of online services at Microsoft Southeast Asia, who oversees MSN and Windows Live, said that Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Thai version is scheduled to launch for Thai MSN members by January 25.

Around 178,000 users in Thailand have been testing the beta version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1. It expected that all 2.5 million active MSN members in Thailand will upgrade their existing version of MSN to the new version in the not-too-distant future.

This online community, especially the blogging community, is popular in Thailand. In-house research shows that around 20 per cent of Thailand's online population of 8.4 million unique IP addresses are actively blogging.

"Windows Live Space has been popular for the development of blogs in Thailand. Around 63 per cent of all blogs in Thailand are developed using Windows Live Space," said Wattas.

This figure excludes the huge number of personal blogs that could be created with Windows Live Messenger 8.1 by MSN users.

Compared with nearby countries, Thailand has the highest growth and highest adoption of Windows Live Space.

"There are around 6.4 million people involved in MSN Messenger, MSN Hotmail, and Windows Live Space per month in Thailand," said Wattas.

Windows Live Spaces is a free online software service where people can blog, share pictures and connect with others in an online place that can be customised to reflect unique styles and personalities.

There are over 120 million individual users of Windows Live Spaces in more than 50 markets around the world.

"Windows Live Spaces brings your online world and relationships to life. Share your stories and stay in touch with friends and family. Express yourself through gadgets, themes, and lists that share your interests. Stay connected seamlessly with your 'real' social network through a single contact list that is always up to date," said Wattas.

"Enjoy constantly updated contact lists through Live Contacts, shared contact information of friends on Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Mail. Users will always know what's going on in their friends' lives.

"Users can share their experiences and special moments through photo albums for their audience. It allows them to sort, share, and upload up to 500 photos per month free of charge. Also, it allows users to write blogs to share their stories and thoughts with their online community," he said.

In the near future, Microsoft plans to roll out new online services to give people the experience of instant messaging as well as blogging seamlessly across device and network, from PC to mobile phone.

Wattas said the number of mobile-phone users, around 30 million in Thailand, is an interesting market for Microsoft, so it plans to team up with local partners so people can blend the distinguishing features of Microsoft's Windows Live, MSN and mobile-phone capabilities.

Thai people may get a similar experience to Malaysian users. In Malaysia, Microsoft has teamed up with Maxis Communications, a local telecommunications company, and Sybase 365, a mobile-enterprise applications and messaging developer, to deliver MSN Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger to more than eight million Maxis mobile subscribers.

The increased number of online communities driven by blogging activities will influence online advertising.

Wattas said online advertising value is only 1 per cent or less than the total Thai advertising market worth about Bt3 billion per year. The rapid growth of online communities, especially blogs, will encourage the online advertising value to grow 25 to 26 per cent year-on-year.

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation