MSN alternatives

MSN is the brand name for one of the most popular organization in the history of internet, The Microsoft Network. Debuted in August 1995, the Microsoft Network soon became one of the most happening names on the online arena launching several websites and services that cater to the world audience. Though the birth of MSN coincides with the launch of Windows 95 operating system, the brand name MSN became far more popular than the operating system because of the range of services offered by MSN. Just when Microsoft thought that they needed something new to keep alive the craze for MSN, they came up with Hotmail and MSN Messenger that changed the way people emailed and communicated with each other on chat screens.

However, today the Microsoft Network has re-organized themselves and the services are being offered under another brand name called Windows Live. However, MSN.com still offers a variety of services and wealth of content that makes MSN the sixth most visited web site on the internet. MSN soon started to spread into different sectors like MSN Search, MSN Chat, MSN Groups, and MSN Video for the young generation who love to be in constant touch with their friends and groups, at the same time MSN also moved into the business arena and came up with MSNBC which provides business news for professional and corporate class people.

Looking for options around the world, Microsoft came up with ninemsn.com portal which is a joint venture between Microsoft and PBL Media in Australia to provide all kind of entertainment and informative news to the people of Australia. NineMSN soon became the most widely used portal page across Australia.

However, with more competition to provide the best open source softwares and applications, many alternatives for MSN have come up online which you can get and download for free. Some of the MSN alternatives do not even need any download as they are embedded on the site itself and you can make use of them directly from the site as if you are using MSN services.

One of the alternatives for MSN messenger are the chat websites that let you login and chat and provide same kind of options like you get in MSN Messenger. Hence, now you really do not have to download the MSN Messenger as these sites offer you all the options through their site.

Other MSN alternatives that are becoming really popular are Adium, Proteus, Mercury Messenger, aMSN and Pidgin which are chat applications that work like MSN Messenger for Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems. These MSN alternatives are spyware-free and they provide additional options like skins, themes and other user-friendly options that attract more visitors. Other MSN chat alternatives are Devil Messenger, Gaim, EveryBuddy and Jabber that are really capturing the market gradually as they are open source and provides more features and options to the users who are currently using MSN.

Posted by James on 2009-10-16 in the category " tools "