MSN is about to release an online version of its popular Instant Messaging service. This means you will be able to chat with your contacts using just a web browser on any computer (at school, at work, at a friend's house or anywhere you can't install the MSN Messenger software). Much like and probably as Microsoft's reaction to the currently available third party services like WBMSN and eMessenger.

The only requirements to use MSN's official web-based MSN Messenger are:

- A web browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 7.0 or later, or Mozilla 1.6 or later, running in Microsoft Windows;
- An Internet connection (56 Kbps or faster recommended);
- A Microsoft .NET Passport. If you have a hotmail.com or msn.com account, you already have a Passport.
- Popups enabled on the service's web site if you are using popup blocker software like the MSN Toolbar.

MSN Web Messenger, as the service is called, is currently being beta-tested, if it's already available at all because I couldn't log in yet. A full version can be expected later this year at http://webmessenger.msn.com.

Source: Mess with MSN Messenger