Xboxist

Microsoft Brings Messenger to Xbox 360

Microsoft announced yesterday that it would be bringing its Windows Live Messenger Service to the Xbox 360 as part of a free Spring update on May 7th. In an attempt to stay ahead of Sony, which seems to be still getting out of the blocks in the next-generation console race, the move is part of Microsoft's plan to push device convergence bringing its services to PCs, televisions and mobile devices. Apparently, Windows Live Messenger has 200 million users, and with 6 million Xbox Love subscribers, according to Microsoft, with this move they "...are simultaneously expanding the access of Xbox Live users to existing friends and family while introducing Windows Live Messenger users to the benefits of Xbox 360," Jerry Johnson, product unit manager for Xbox Live, said in a statement.

With the Spring update, these two massive communities will combine allowing Microsoft users to link their gamertags to their Windowds Live Messenger accounts, and so chat with their messenger contacts via a virtual keyboard. Other planned additions include:

- New family configurations;

- Progressive downloads, enabling pause or resume video playback during download

- Xbox Live Arcade enhancements such as the ability to see what games your contacts are playing