Windows Live Messenger Not Included?
Posted by Chris Leckness on 04/9/08 in Rants, Software
Jack posted the other day about Windows Live becoming available for download. Well, I got a question about this. What does this mean?
This software does not include Windows Live Messenger. Please inquire with your mobile operator about messenger access.
Huh? What the heck… Why on earth would our mobile operator have anything to do with what programs we run as long as we pay for a data plan? That just seem pretty wrong if you ask me. It’s my data plan to use how I wish, right? What do you think?
You can also participate in other conversation in our active forums with 200,000 other Members. It only takes 2 minutes to 
It absolutely blows me away too Chris! I can’t imagine why it is not available as a full download unless the carriers have agreements with 3rd party IM clients …. and what if they do? Let the user make the decision on what they want.
In Europe, there are some data plans where the terms prohibit use of IM on your cellphone. Some plans allow use, but are charged at a higher rate. It’s becoming more common for carrier-branded phones to have Windows Live Messenger removed.
I wonder if this is because the cellular providers view IM as a competing product to text messaging. Since IM is free, when people use IM, the cellular providers don’t make the money they’d make if text messaging were used instead.
Actually my carrier, mother of baby bells, charges me as though it was text whenever i “IM” someone. Unbelievable taht they want to go this route