Getting Started with Windows Live Messenger IM Controls
Did you know that with over 300 million active users worldwide, Windows Live Messenger is the second largest IM network in the world (behind China’s Tencent QQ), and the largest IM network globally outside of China?
Most people know that you can chat on the Windows Live Messenger network from the Windows Live Messenger client, but not many people know that you can also interact with the network programmatically using various open APIs and IM controls.
For example, take a look at my Contact page. I have easily embedded a Windows Live Messenger client right within my website using the Windows Live Messenger IM control, making me contactable by anyone who visits my web page – even if they do not use Windows Live Messenger.
What I did was fairly simple – I only took the default IM control without customizing it. However, the Mesenger APIs are incredibly rich and flexible, and you can do a whole lot more other things with it.
Below is a document that teaches you how to get started with the various Windows Live Messenger IM controls and APIs. If you are a developer and would like to incorporate Messenger functionality within your application or website, do check it out!
