Tipped by HunterK, Mess.be was very proud to be the first site on the entire world wide web to announce Microsoft's "secret" plans of releasing a web-based version of its popular Instant Messaging service, allowing you to chat with your contacts very similar like you do with MSN Messenger (or Windows Messenger), but 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. After more than three months of beta-testing, the web-based Messenger went "final" halfway November.

>> Visit http://webmessenger.msn.com.

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; EDIT: Since it's browser & JavaScript-based, it should work on OS-X (with Camino) and Linux (with FireFox) too.

- 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.

Here's an overview of the features in MSN Web Messenger: group conversations, customization of your text font, size and color, emoticons (no custom emoticons!), send and receive e-mail messages, add contacts to your contact list, toasts and sound alerts (for every new message received and when someone signs in). NOT included at the time of writing are audio/video conversations, "fun & games" applications, file exchange, display pictures, window backgrounds and custom emoticons.

Like the contact list in MSN Messenger, your MSN Web Messenger contact list displays your current and pending contacts and information about their status. Unlike MSN Messenger however, your contacts are shown in fixed categories that cannot be renamed or deleted. You will see some or all of the following groups in your contact list: New e-mail messages, People who want to add you (click a name to accept or reject the invitation), Current conversations (click a name to open the current conversation window), Online (click a name to open a conversation window), Not online (click a name to send an e-mail message to this person)

These were the first-ever screenshots available to the public and made by Timothy:

- Sign In Screen.
- The main contact list window.
- Me and Timothy's first Web MSN Messenger conversation.
- Integrated e-mail sending.
- Sending an instant message... to nobody frankly because NOBODY IS USING IT YET.
- Changing your nickname (by clicking it once).
- Adding a contact.
- The first official MSN Messenger client that works in a Linux environment using FireFox!
- Reached maximum number of connections + the main site. - Conversation window.
- Contact list.
- Approve contacts.
- The Dutch version.
- The login page of server 101.
- The login page of server 102.
- The main contact list window.
- Me and Timothy's first Web MSN Messenger conversation.
- Integrated e-mail sending.
- Sending an instant message... to nobody frankly because NOBODY IS USING IT YET.
- Changing your nickname (by clicking it once).
- Adding a contact.
- The first official MSN Messenger client that works in a Linux environment using FireFox!