These are the interesting things i could find. If you really want to see everything just visit mess.be for the full chat transcript.
Microsoft "stealing" features from Messenger Plus!:
Q: [151] Why do we still not have tabs in Live Messenger? It's so often requested but never added?
A: It is definitely one of the features that is being considered for future releases
Q: [68] Leah said on the MessengerSays blog that Tabbed Chatting is on the list of features to add, when do you guys think we're going to see it?
A: In the next release
Q: [127] Suggestion Six: Auto-Away me4ssages, To be able to set a message to send to a user that messages you while you are away Example, Mike is sending Steven a message , Hi Steve how are you, Then Mike will get a response saying Sorry i am away shopping.
A: We have a whole cool feature comming to answer this need.
Rumours and indications about final release date and how many more beta builds to expect:
MenthiX note: Might be interesting for Patchou too as indication when MP!L could be released
Q: [141] Are there any plans in Microsoft to release versions in other languages, for instance Russian, for Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live mail?
A: Yes, there are currently plans to add additional langauges for Windows Live products. Russian should be available for beta in the next several days.
Q: [150] When is the next beta release due out?
A: The next release is the non-beta version of messenger
Q: [297] RE 150: So the next release is going to be the public release?
A: Yes I believe so.
Q: [291] So the next release will be the public one ?
A: That's the plan.
Q: [285] Aarthi - Messenger has just said the next release is non-beta does that mean were nearing a final release?
A: as of the current plan the next release is a final release and that is what we are working towards
Q: [363] will us beta testers get the final version of WLM 8 a few weeks before its made public so we can do some last minute bug finding!!??
A: We normally give out a build close to the final release for testing, but not final release.
Q: [412] when is the next build going to release?
A: We build every day but the final should be
late April - we hope.
MenthiX note: Hmmm... so basicly they say: "No more releases for managed testers, everybody needs to wait until final public release which is planned end april" ?
Microsoft's opinion about Messenger Plus!:
MenthiX note: All these 4 questions were answered by a guy name "Geeven", the opinions from other MS people are usually "we like Plus!, but we do not support it"):
Q: [478] Do you guys approve msgplus?
A: no. in fact, since the program modifies our binary, i believe installing msgrplus is a violation of the messenger terms of use.
Q: [488] what is your official opinion of MSG Plus!?
A: we're not really fans of it. it modifies our binary, so it causes a bunch of bugs. plus, when people submit crashes - which we do look at - when msgr plus is installed the crashes are usually worthless. however, patchou comes up with some interesting features and we always encourage user feedback.
Q: [492] note to Geeven: Messenger Plus! does not modify the files of Messenger and never did
A: it may not now, but it certainly used to. it can cause us a great deal of problems
Q: [530] well if you guys dislike msgplus... will you ever prevent installations?
A: probably not, unless it becomes a REAL problem. if you wantto shoot yourself in the foot, we're not going to keep you from doing that either
Other Plus! related stuff
Q: [117] So, when is MS going to hire Patchou to work on Messenger...?
A: Has he submitted his resume
Q: [301] Is MSN Plus working with Beta version of Messenger ?
A: Need to check with the MSN Plus folks
Some other fun/interesting stuff:
Q: [174] Will us lolya beta testers get a free MS hat? or how about a pen?
A: You all certainly deserve some MSN/Windows Live stuff thanks to all your great work! I'll see what we can do
Q: [220] Do you support the unoffical Jonathan Kay fan club?
A: I'm a fan too.
MenthiX note: See the Jonathan Kay/TReKiE fan club @ http://zivontsis.googlepages.com/jkay.htm
Q: [323] how many users is in the "Messenger" network, and what percentage is MSN?WLM messenger users out of the total?
A: there are in excess of 200 million messenger users today. we are ramping up the number of beta users every day, but are still a fairly low numbers relative to the entire user base.
Q: [408] how big is the wlm team?
A: about 60 full timers, including a few manager overhead types
/ –
for some reason
