MSN Messenger: 100 Million+ Users, MSN 6 Details

100 Million Customers and Counting: MSN Messenger Extends Worldwide Lead Among Instant Messaging Providers

New Version With Significant Updates Is Scheduled for Release This Summer

REDMOND, Wash. — May 12, 2003 — MSN® Messenger Service recently reached a record high of 100 million active users per month worldwide. In addition, MSN Messenger was the No. 1 instant messaging (IM) service in 11 countries, according to independent third-party rating organizations during the month of March 2003. The service’s continued growth further solidifies MSN Messenger’s position as the industry leader. Over the coming months, MSN Messenger fans can look forward to an innovative new version of the service that delivers advanced personalization, integrated games and video chatting capabilities, along with a dramatic new user interface.

“MSN Messenger has proven to be a powerful communication service for consumers worldwide,” said Lisa Gurry, group product manager for MSN. “MSN delivers innovative technology such as Shared Browsing with MSN Messenger today, and it will raise the bar further with exciting new services when we unveil our next version this summer.”

New Version of Messenger Promises New User Interface, Other Innovations

MSN will build on the success of the current version of MSN Messenger when it releases a major upgrade to the service this summer. New and enhanced features will include these:

* Significant improvements to the user interface
* New personalization features
* Integrated game capabilities that allow users to play checkers, double solitaire and other Zone.com games live via MSN Messenger
* Integrated video and voice features that offer live, face-to-face communications between customers of MSN Messenger. Previously available as an add-on service from Logitech, consumers can take advantage of integrated webcam functionality, which allows them to show live pictures to their online buddies. Audio voice features are also available, enabling consumers to talk to each other using their PC’s microphone and speakers. For Windows® XP users, video conferencing, or synchronized video and audio, will be available with MSN Messenger version 6.

Some of these enhancements can be viewed at http://messenger.msn.com/sneakpeek/.