TechWatch: 'Messenger Live' upgrade launched by MSN

Messenger Live is the first of over 20 new products Microsoft is planning to launch, and is expected to be used by the approximate 240 million subscribers to its previous editions in over 60 countries in 26 languages.

By AVI KRAWITZ
tech watch 88 (photo credit: )
tech watch 88
(photo credit: )
As the trend to further enhance data services continues, MSN, Microsoft's Internet-service-provider (ISP) network, has launched its next generation messenger product, "Messenger Live," also making the service available in Hebrew and Arabic. Messenger Live is the first of over 20 new messenger products Microsoft is planning to launch this year, and is expected to be used by the approximate 240 million subscribers to its previous editions in over 60 countries in 26 languages. The upgraded version includes video conferencing facilities, the ability to make telephone calls from regular phone to messenger and between computers, the exchange of immediate messages between personal computers, automatic updates to users' contact lists and the ability to distribute pictures and files to other "Live" users. Also expanding its data capabilities, cellular provider Pelephone has launched its mail2sms services enabling customers to send text messages to mobile phones from an email program integrated into Microsoft Outlook. The company launched the service with Petah Tikva-based message service provider Telemessage and the program required can be downloaded free of charge from either company's Web site. Pelephone subscribers will be able to sign up using their mobile number and send an SMS (short message service) to any mobile phone directly from Microsoft Outlook using established contact lists for both individuals and groups. The SMS traffic will be charged to the subscriber's mobile bill. Meanwhile, as new web based technologies continue to flood the market, security threats are becoming more relevant to users. An audit conducted for a "major financial institution" by Israeli founded Web security solutions provider Finjan, showed that financial organizations are still at risk from Web-borne threats, such as spyware and malicious code, despite their use of anti-virus and URL filtering security solutions. Finjan said it found a growing proportion of Web-borne threats in place which were not detected by traditional anti-virus and firewall products. The biggest hazard to financial organizations, Finjan said, was Spyware, a threat aimed at obtaining personal information, as some 67% of security policy violations recorded during this audit were related to spyware downloads, attempts to access spyware Web sites or attempts to access Web sites that hide executable spyware. Showing a growing awareness of Internet security issues among both individual users and enterprises, Symantec, which has a research and development facility in Or Yehuda, said it has sold 200 million of its Norton anti-virus products since the company was founded over 20 years ago. Arie Danon, Mediterranean regional manger of Symantec noted in an interview this week that the nature of virus attacks had changed in recent years aiming at gaining financial profits from the victims and that Internet users should be aware of this and protect themselves. In an attempt to enhance security for VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) users, Kayote Networks has released its latest version 1.2 of its VoIP Traffic Manager (VTM) product. Launched at CommunicAsia exhibition in Singapore, the company said the new product will allow for customized levels of security and access to information for each user and an advanced alert system for remote management of the VoIP Network. Also reaching a landmark this week, Bezeq said it has sold over 800,000 digital phones since launching the product in the Israeli market two years ago. The telecommunications company said the trend is showing a growing presence in the market for digital, as opposed to wireless analog phones. For every analog phone bought today, Bezeq said it also sells a BDigital product, whereas a year ago, 70% of phones sold were analog.