Facebook integration has been at the heart of the latest beta for Windows Live Messenger 2011, so it doesn't seem unusual for Microsoft to implement the feature away from its main desktop client.

Neowin reports that Windows Live Web Messenger will soon integrate your Facebook friends alongside your Windows Live contacts:



The official Windows Live Messenger iPhone app has been updated to support full Facebook integration, allowing you to chat to your friends on the popular social networking website as if they were your normal Messenger contacts.



These two updates show how seriously Microsoft is attempting to capitalise on the social networking market, which has been responsible for the decline of a younger demographic of instant messenger users.

The popular web messenger service, eBuddy is about to receive a major refresh, which will be available to users from April 6. Originally named e-messenger until 2004, eBuddy has expanded to become one of the largest web IM platforms available today. We at Messenger Stuff have been given an early preview of what the new eBuddy has to offer.

The upcoming release takes the web application in a new direction, boasting a similar interface to its largest competitor Meebo. So how does eBuddy compare? I'll put to you the problem I've always had with eBuddy: its interface. The design and layout has always been bland and bloated for the user. It seems uncomfortable on my screen. This redesigned build however removes its out-dated system of pop-up windows and instead renders the application in your current browser window. Everything from the login form to sending a message is now unadulterated, simple and maintains a high level of polish. The whole package now feels more modern and in line with the modern web. A spokesperson for eBuddy summarised the changes perfectly:



The great thing about eBuddy is its integration with various other IM platforms. All IM clients tend to share the same basic functionality e.g. setting a display name, chatting to a friend, blocking a certain individual. eBuddy however, includes features for each specific client. Need to set your personal message? Nudge a contact? You can! eBuddy, particularly for MSN/ Windows Live Messenger users is simply your desktop client, but available at any computer without having to install anything. You can't claim eBuddy is a stripped down, half-coded version of Messenger (unlike what a lot of web messengers are out there).

The level of customisation in eBuddy is thus its greatest strength. You can sort your contacts however you prefer or use several buddy lists from various platforms in one window.The tabbed interface improves navigation, conservations are easier to follow and the new jQuery functions make using the application nothing short of beautiful.

eBuddy appears to be going from strength to strength, with a wider userbase and a superb iPhone application. A refresh to the main client itself appears to mark the end of a significant step in eBuddy's development strategy.

Honestly I never was a huge fan of eBuddy, preferring Meebo when I was pushed to use a web messenger. Now I have to re-think my use for Meebo as the new eBuddy provides a vast array of features presented in a clean and creative way. If any of you have any similar allegiances to a certain web messenger I would recommend, come April 6 to give the new eBuddy a try. You may just make the switch.

View a screenshot of the new buddy list
View a screenshot of the chat window

The world's largest web-messenger service, Meebo now provides a free iPhone application for its users. Those who own one of Apple's mobile phones can now use their web messenger conveniently while they are on the go.

Some of the features included within the app are:

• Access to all your buddies (AIM, Gmail, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo, Facebook, Myspace, etc)
• Receive push notifications when you get a new IM, even when the app is closed
• Flick between multiple conversation windows
• Type in landscape and portrait mode
• Manage your chat sessions as you switch back and forth between the Meebo iPhone app and meebo.com
• Synchronized chat history between your iPhone and meebo.com

The Meebo for iPhone app now competes with the great success of eBuddy for the iPhone, which is currently one of the most popular apps within Apple's store.



View Meebo for the iPhone

After over two years of development, the popular new IM re-birth of Trillian known as Trillian Astra has come to the iPhone in a notable way. However, one may question whether it stands out from its competitors, particularly over cost.

Although other iPhone web messengers are available and do a great job, Trillian Astra has a layer of polish that is both engaging and fun for the end user. The interface is beautiful, feature packed and its simplicity over integration should be noted. Trillian for the iPhone is rather simply "clean, concise, and coherent". The catch? Currently priced at $4.99 the key question is this app value for money? In many ways yes; this is a feature packed app with a lot to offer and a serious consideration for iPhone users who IM on the go. If you only casually IM on your phone however, then you may struggle to find value in Trillian for the iPhone.

Visit the Trillian for iPhone website

Wow, it has been a while since I last posted here so I feel I owe an explanation. Having just started university things have been a bit manic and with Halloween being tonight, I thought I should squeeze in a post before venturing out.

• Messenger Plus! 4.83: Patchou has released a small update for Messenger Plus! Live which addresses some bugs and compatibility issues, whilst removing traces of the recent contest. [Read more]
  
  
• MessengerDiscovery 3.0 plans: Matt, the creator of MessengerDiscovery has already outlined the program's future development plans. Perhaps the most notable new feature on the list is the end of the proxy connections and the application becoming open source to encourage other developers to migrate to Messenger. [Read more]
  
  
• eBuddy receives a re-code: The hit web messenger eBuddy is working on a new web messenger, from the ground up, drawing on newer technologies and better user-interaction. A sleeker interface, along with greater depth for customization and a new layer of polish ensures the service stays up to date with this fast moving industry. [Read more]
  
  
• Interview with Marcus Schmidt: Marketing manager over at Microsoft, Marcus Schmidt reveals his personal thoughts about the future of Windows Live Messenger and what he would like to see in the upcoming Wave 4 series of Windows Live products. [Read more]
  
  
• A standalone web messenger from Microsoft: Microsoft Singapore have released their own web messenger client based on the Messenger API library. As the old Microsoft web messenger was recently discontinued for one built inside of Windows Live Hotmail this is an interesting move, yet one that should please those seeking a fully featured, yet non-bloated client on the web. [Give it a go]

This here is what I call an overdue post and something I've been meaning to talk about for a while now. BuddyFuze is a project in development by an old Messenger developer commonly known as Juzzi. The program builds on the simple idea of integrating social networking applications such as Facebook and Twitter with Windows Live Messenger. To lift from their own product description "connecting the social" is at the heart of BuddyFuse.



Although the main program isn't available to the public at this time, its web messenger service is. What makes it unique is the use of the Windows Live Messenger library and Web Toolkit allowing users to use the their Microsoft IM client directly through Windows Live itself. BuddyFuse thus receives no user information or data which can be argued as adding significant privacy benefits.

Because BuddyFuse is designed with Windows Live Messenger in mind it aims to take advantage as much as the web API has to offer in a clean and simple layout that is familiar to Windows Live Messenger itself. This new web messenger launched just last week and is most likely to be accessible through all schools and work places for the time being.

Use the BuddyFuse web messenger

This week the eBuddy team have released eBuddy for iPhone and iPod Touch to the Apple App Store, in a move to make their web messenger a truly mobile, on-the-go experience. With iPhone contracts typically allowing unlimited Internet usage, the app aims to provide your IM client wherever and whenever you want. With push notifications you can always be connected even when using the device's other features.

The application is simple, easy to use and just works. It obvious has had a lot of care taken in its development phase to produce an app that competitors such as Meebo simply do not provide. Specifically designed for the iPhone's latest 3.0 software update (yet compatible with previous versions) eBuddy for your iPhone and iPod Touch offers these main features:

• One buddy list for MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, and Facebook
• Stay online when you exit the app
• Get push notifications for incoming messages when you exit the app
• Reconnect automatically if connection is lost
• Get offline messages after reconnecting
• Get new message alerts & typing alerts in the chat screen
• Easily switch between chats by swiping your screen
• Shake your iPhone or iPod Touch to send a buzzer

The product is still in its early stages, but is one of the great few free apps available in the store. Future updates will allow more features and hopefully address issues such as only allowing to be signed in for 30-minute periods. On the whole however, anyone who wants to use IM at any time or in any place should definitely consider this wonderful program. eBuddy for the iPhone gives it the edge over popular competitor Meebo.

Download the eBuddy App for the iPhone/ iPod Touch
Source: Now in the App Store… eBuddy for iPhone & iPod Touch (eBuddy blog)
Visit the eBuddy website for more details

MSN Web Messenger was once one of the leading web IM clients, specifically targeted as an on-the-go version of MSN Messenger. However, its development has been neglected and with the emergence of a web client available within your Hotmail account the application has become quickly outdated. Other web messengers have succeeded in giving Microsoft a run for its money. It will close its doors tomorrow.

Using annoying pop-ups, lacking features and being rather complicated to use were all too commonly acceptable when MSN Messenger 6 was prevalent. However, the web messenger boom has changed the situation dramatically. The web messenger team had this to say:



The news does not come as a surprise, but it rather sad to see this once popular web messenger go into the history books.

See the announcement at Mailcall Live space

Web messengers used to be simple web tools for providing basic text chat when you are away from your personal computer. These days, however they are so much more, delivering just as many features as a desktop client would. In keeping with this modern trend, eBuddy has developed a webcam chat feature right from your web browser for use with several IM clients.



The feature works well and is incredibly easy to use with the same functionality as you would expect from your normal IM client. To think even Microsoft Messenger for Mac doesn't even support audio or video chat is remarkable and yet a third party web messenger is doing a great job of it. As always this leaves us with speculation to what eBuddy is going to do for its next trick.

Source: eBuddy blog
View details of the new webcam feature at eBuddy.com

In the coming weeks Microsoft will release more updates to its Windows Live Hotmail email service. Recent updates have included POP access, an increase in speed and performance, a Windows Live Calendar update, an interface update, better spam protection, bug fixes, and other changes in response to feedback. On top of that, we can expect to see an integrated web messenger, access to other email accounts through POP aggregation, what's new feed integration, and unlimited storage.

Some of us have been waiting a long time for a Windows Live web messenger, a much needed update to Microsoft's current MSN Web Messenger offering [...]

Read the rest of this post, featuring a comprehensive preview and screenshots, at Neowin