MSN, Yahoo Put Messenger Emphasis on Games and Search

Both Microsoft and Yahoo have made changes to their instant messenger devices, putting more emphasis on games and search integration than before. While MSN Messenger additions are leaning more towards the interactivity of branded online gaming, Yahoo has also added radio, web search, and user photo functionality.

Yahoo has introduced deeper integration with Yahoo Search via new search shortcuts which can have a large effect on the use of their search engine. Earlier in the year, Yahoo introduced its new search engine technology while dropping Google as its primary search engine provider. Such integration of Yahoo Search into Yahoo’s premier product offerings, such as Yahoo Messenger, is a sound plan to spread Yahoo Search across user desktops and to infiltrate Yahoo member web surfing habits. Overture search advertising was credited with the huge boom in Yahoo’s revenue reports, adding search to yet one more Yahoo community will only help such results.

Yahoo has also added one-to-one games, personal photo or graphic “avatars,” and a new messenger radio service which is based on Yahoo’s LAUNCHcast. “With this newest version of Yahoo Messenger, we are changing the instant messaging landscape by introducing new ways for people to express, share, and manage, making instant messaging more essential to their lives,” said Lisa Pollock Mann, senior director of messaging products at Yahoo. “By integrating unique features with compelling services from across our network, Yahoo Messenger continues to enable powerful interactions between friends and family.”

Microsoft has also made similar changes, but adding more online gaming features to MSN Messenger, perhaps to engage a younger audience while also keeping users engaged in the messenger software for a longer time - adding more desire to online advertisers while also leaning towards paid content revenue generated by subscription programs.

MSN Messenger boasts more than 120 million users each month and its games venture, the MSN Instant Games Clubhouse initially will offer four head-to-head games: “Wheel of Fortune,” “UPWORDS,” “Bankshot Billiards,” an online version of pool; and MSN Instant Games Chess, a high-quality, full-featured version of the classic board game. Customers in the United States can play all the games free as part of a 14-day trial. Customers can subscribe to clubhouse games such as “Wheel of Fortune,” “Bankshot Billiards” and “UPWORDS” at a price of $4.99 per month per game or a special introductory price of $14.99 per year per game.* MSN Instant Games Chess is available at a price of $3.99 per month or a special introductory price of $9.99 per year.

“The popularity of online gaming is booming, with nearly 50 million people already jumping on the Internet, instead of pulling a boxed game from their closet, when they want to play games,” said Blake Irving, corporate vice president for MSN Communications Services and Member Platform Group at Microsoft. “Gaming with MSN Instant Games combines the best of both worlds, bringing some of the most popular boxed games to life online, while enabling people to connect with their friends - or rivals — in gameplay wherever they might be.”

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