Next Month: Live Messenger on Xbox

By Vivek | April 9th, 2007 at 12:21 am ET         

Microsoft digital device and services integration is going to get a big jump next when Xbox 360 Spring Update enables users to access Windows Live Messenger on their TVs. Live Messenger is already available on Windows Mobile Phones, Zune works with Xbox, iPhone like service on Windows Mobile is supposed to be out soon, you can watch Movies on Xbox….. Hate it or love, but the digital sync will get thrust on us like Windows OS was once done.

Coming to the real point, beginning the week of May 7, 2007 Xbox LIVE users will be able to chat with up to six people on their contact list at one time, while playing games, listening to music or watching movies. To get chatting users will be able to chat via a virtual on-screen keyboard or hookup a USB keyboard plugged into the game machine(Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device).

Users will also be able to associate their Live Messenger identity with and Xbox LIVE “gamertag,” that will let them see at a glance if their existing friends on Windows Live Messenger have gamertags. If nothing else, lot of interest generated among the 200 million Live Messenger users looking at their buddy gamertags and in turn getting tempted go for a Xbox deal hunt.

Not really sure how Sony wants to counter that. Do they even have a worthy IM service?