Microsoft Messenger for Mac 5.0
Microsoft Australia today announced the availability of Microsoft
Messenger for Mac 5.0. This latest version of Microsoft’s Instant
Messaging (IM) tool for Mac offers business and home users improved
security and the ability to communicate in real-time.
“The latest version of Messenger for Mac is ideal for both office and
personal communication,” said Jeremy Hinton, Product Marketing Manager,
Macintosh Business Unit, Microsoft Australia. “Messenger for Mac 5.0
allows for greater collaboration in business environments and yet still
presents a fun way to chat with friends and family.”
Messenger for Mac 5.0 takes advantage of integration with Microsoft’s
business IM solutions. Messenger for Mac 5.0 can be deployed with Live
Communications Server 2005 to help improve collaboration for corporate
Mac users by streamlining communication and allowing for enhanced
messaging security. Corporate messaging sessions run through Live
Communications Server 2005 are contained within the corporate firewall
and server-side session logging is enabled. Corporate customers can
also deploy the Live Communications Server 2005 Public IM Connectivity
license, enabling their Mac users to IM with contacts outside the
network who use services from AOL, MSN® and Yahoo! Live Communications
Server 2005 support also introduces integration with the Global Address
List, allowing corporate Mac users to locate contact information and
availability status more efficiently than before.
“Methods of communication and collaboration in the workplace have
changed drastically in the last few years, particularly with IM
becoming a common means of interoffice communication,” said Van Baker,
vice president and research director for Gartner. “An enterprise
solution is needed to provide a true office collaboration tool rather
than the typical ‘buddy’ IM we have seen in the past.”
Messenger for Mac 5.0 introduces tabbed viewing, a new approach for Mac
users who need to work with corporate and personal accounts. Users may
simultaneously access corporate and personal Messenger accounts and set
a unique user status on each. The personal tab allows users to IM with
friends and family, while support for Microsoft Office Live
Communications Server 2005 enables business users to IM in a
security-enhanced manner via the corporate tab with colleagues inside
and out of the network.
Messenger for Mac 5.0 has an updated design that features a Mac OS-like
brushed-metal look and feel in addition to a refined preferences pane.
Version 5.0 also includes new features that allow users to develop
their online personalities with customisable display pictures and the
ability to view animated and custom emoticons.
Customers may download this version at http://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/messenger.aspx.
About the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit
The Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft is a leading developer of
software and online products for the Macintosh platform. The group is
composed of more than 180 full-time Mac product experts and is
dedicated to creating innovative software for Mac customers worldwide.
For more than 20 years, Microsoft has developed award-winning software
for the Mac. Current products include Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, a
productivity suite that includes the e-mail application and personal
information manager Entourage® 2004, Word 2004, Excel® 2004 and
PowerPoint® 2004; Virtual PC for Mac Version 7; and Messenger for Mac
5.0. More information about the Mac BU and Microsoft Macintosh products
is available at http://www.microsoft.com/mac.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realise their full potential.
Microsoft, MSN, Entourage, Excel and PowerPoint are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or
other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.