Next Microsoft IM passes auctioned on eBay

Under the hammer

By Gavin Clarke • Get more from this author

Posted in Applications, 22nd December 2005 12:35 GMT

Free whitepaper – Optimizing the data center for cost and efficiency

Developers itching to test drive Microsoft's latest instant messenger can now bid for an invitation to join the test program on eBay.

Some 70 invitations to the Windows Live Messenger 8 beta test program have been posted on eBay, with many sellers looking to make around $25.00 per invitation.

The beta program has been made available to a limited audience of private testers, although program participants have been issued with a number of invitations for friends, family or "the highest bidder." Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger team said the program's size was restricted to limit the hits on its back-end servers.

Windows Live Messenger is the updated version of MSN Messenger, re-branded to fit Microsoft's recently announced "Live Software" Web 2.0 strategy. Windows Live Messenger features a contact list for up to 600 people, PC-to-PC phone calls and folder sharing. ®

Free whitepaper – Guidelines for specification of data center power density