---a bit off-topic---
quote:
Originally posted by Choli
One of my contacts has an I'm-not-sure-what thing enabled so he can receive IMs
You need to have a mobile device (mostly mobile phone) registered to your .NET Passport. You can do that by going to:
http://mobile.msn.com/. This doesn't work for every provider in every country (for instance, my mobile provider isn't listed, so I can't do that).
Also, you need to enabled it in MSN Messenger: Tools > Options > Phone > "Allow People to send messages to my mobile phone"
When you did that and you're offline, your contacts will see a small mobile phone across the red offline-icon. When they double click it, instead of opening up a email window, messenger opens up that screen you showed.
In fact you can always enabled that option in messenger, but of course, it will only work when you have registered your .NET Passport at mobile.msn.