UPDATE – Since writing this article various CAB files have appeared which will automatically install Windows Live Messenger for you. Download these, copy them to your phone and then RUN the CAB file on your device to install. Try here, here, here or here. Install to the DEVICE and not the Storage Card. The below article is now included just for reference.
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After reading this story regarding the absence of MSN Messenger on some new phones I decided to do some investigating. In other Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC’s there’s the “Pocket MSN” feature which lets you access MSN Messenger, MSN Hotmail and more. However, the Orange SPV M600 and other new Windows Mobile devices don’t appear to be including it. At first glance it looks like there’s definitely a move to make the MSN Messenger service chargeable, however it’s totally up to networks whether they include it or not, so has it been pulled by Orange ? Will it become a pay-for service ? Either way, I decided to do some investigating because I’m a tight-wad and I hate paying for stuff.
Read on for my full investigation.. Now I could use Agile Messenger but is there a way to get MSN Messenger on this device?
Well, to get MSN on here I think we’ve got to go a bit retro. I firstly download MSN Messenger for Pocket PC 2002. Old yes, but let’s see what happens. I grab the install file from this Microsoft page (also available here too). I install it, I’ve got the icon.. WOoo! Will it work ?
Does it work ? Does it work? Errr… no. Absolutely not. You click it, but nothing happens. My next step is to browse to this other Microsoft page, which has loads of MSN Messenger Updates. I grab the one called MSN® Messenger Update for Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC/Pocket PC Phone Edition 2003 (also available here)…
..and .. hey presto – it works!
EDIT – There’s another way to get the MSN Messenger onto your device if you don’t already have it. This method will install the latest version too – you just browse here and install Pocket MSN in one go from Microsoft. Of course the major down-point appears to be a charge for the privilege! Thanks to Nick Calliari and everyone else who spotted this! 🙂