Yahoo! Messenger for Vista adds Voice and SMS!
April 30, 2008 on 5:16 pm | In News |
Yakety Yak! Today we’re releasing an all-new voice-enabled Beta version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. We have included the voice and SMS features our users have been requesting, an all-new Voice Visualization feature, and lots of improvements to help improve overall speed and stability.
You can now make free PC-to-PC calls to other Yahoo! Messenger friends, or if you have a Phone Out account, make low-cost calls to landlines and mobile phones for as low as 1¢ a minute (see rates). Our new voice features also include fun Voice Visualizations that animate you and your friend’s voices while you’re on a call. Be sure to check out the demo video below to see how it works.
Download Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta
We’ve also added support for free text messaging to mobile phones (SMS). Just enter a friend’s mobile phone number, type a message and click Send. Your friend will receive your message on their mobile phone and when they reply back, it comes to you in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. No more squinting over your small phone screen or wearing out your thumbs.
Note that it’s free for you to send SMS messages from Messenger but your friend may incur charges for receiving depending on their mobile data plan.
One of the most requested features in the feedback is e-mail alerts. We’re happy to say that with this new Beta version, you’ll now receive a pop-up alert in the lower right corner of your screen and see a new icon on the contact list window when you have new Yahoo! Mail. Just click either one to go right to your new e-mail. (You can also turn off Mail alerts in preferences).
We’re also going global! We’re thrilled to be launching Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta in Germany and Taiwan. These are just the first of many countries we plan to support.
Be sure to watch the brief demo video of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta to see all these new improvements in action:
We really value your feedback and hope that after you try this latest Beta, you’ll stop by our feedback form and tell us what you think, especially regarding Voice Visualizations. You can access the feedback form here, or just click the Feedback button located on the contact list window or at the top of any IM conversation window. We really want to hear from you!
And lastly, please remember that we are still in Beta mode so even this latest version will not have all the features you may love from the classic version of Yahoo! Messenger. From the preview feedback we’ve received we know that you really want webcam video, archiving, photo sharing and more. We are working on these types of features and appreciate your patience while we get them ready.
We hope you enjoy Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta; download it here. We look forward to receiving your feedback!
Josh Jacobson
Senior Product Manager, Yahoo! Messenger for Vista
[…] details on the beta release, including a screencast of the service can be found at the Yahoo! Messenger blog and newly re-designed Web […]
Pingback by Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista Beta - SuperSite Blog — April 30, 2008 #
Please make interface, emoticon and top tab button like 1st preview. Thanks
Comment by JQ — April 30, 2008 #
[…] Yahoo guys have yet not launched the Final Version of their Yahoo Messenger 9.0 but today they have launched the beta version of Long Awaited Yahoo Messenger for […]
Pingback by Technoworld » Yahoo Messenger for Vista Beta Launched — April 30, 2008 #
it seems to be working but why is it still using the preview ver. vista gadget? also the reg yahoo mess beta seems to crash when i exit it on both xp & vista?
Comment by FarStrider — April 30, 2008 #
What about getting into chatrooms with messenger for vista??
Comment by allanmn — April 30, 2008 #
[…] Also, starting today, Yahoo Messenger for Windows Vista support Voice functions and SMS function. This is a really great news. If you want to read more about that, enter here! […]
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Pingback by Download Yahoo! Messenger 9 Beta for Windows Vista with Voice Visualizations, Animations & Free SMS by Tech[dot]Blog — May 1, 2008 #
As much as I want to like this, it is still painfully slow to start up–just as slow as the previous release.
Also, the Vista gadget only displays one contact at a time. Is there any way (as I believe I have seen somewhere) of displaying multiple contacts in the gadget?
Comment by Rob — May 1, 2008 #
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Ok… just downloaded it. Wow. Once loaded, it’s much, MUCH faster than the first beta. The animations are gorgeous! The UI in general is very elegant, and the “eye candy” is subtle and useful. Maybe it’s just me, but the Aero translucent window border looks slightly out of place–though not nearly as much as I thought it would. One other niggling detail–and I’ve noticed this in some other applications as well–there seems to be a delay in the font smoothing. For instance, when you right-click on a contact, the context menu pops up, but the text is slightly blurry for a bit… then it becomes crisp. Doubt this is a YM problem, but just thought I’d mention it.
It’s *almost* a replacement for the “regular” YM client now… the gotcha for me is that is seems to lack message archiving ability (which has always sucked somewhat with YM–there’s no search interface… c’mon, Yahoo!). The startup time is also dismal, but I like coffee.
Comment by bluvg — May 1, 2008 #
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Congratulations on the new release! Better and nicer than the Preview.
I agree with others about the Aero borders. They do look out of place. The way Y!M Vista looked in the demo at CES 2007 was much better.
Add archiving and photo sharing in the next release and it will be a pretty good replacement for the classic Messenger.
Comment by dragossh — May 1, 2008 #
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i’d also like to say why are my passport.net contacts statuses not being tracked properly
Comment by FarStrider — May 1, 2008 #
Great to see things are coming along I have a question though when will we be able to do Web cam on it? That another feature im waiting for so I can see my friends on there cam.
Comment by Daniel — May 1, 2008 #
I’m going to blog about this new release
I like the new sign on and signing in look. The Yahoo Insider always kills it but luckily we have a choice to disable that.
Pros:
1. It’s out of Preview, or Alpha.
2. New SMS feature is awesome!
3. Now it has a mail notification.
4. Not only that, it now has voice features.
Cons:
1. Still has a slow feel.
2. I normally have to find something for the mouse to show a quick note for the messenger to show up fully.
3. Still going to be a long time before we get full version.
Comment by Homer — May 1, 2008 #
Hi Daniel-
We’re working on webcam for a future release. Can’t say exactly when it will be ready but we’re working on it! Thanks,
Sarah Bacon
Comment by Administrator — May 1, 2008 #
On my 64-bit Vista box with 3.6GB dual-core P4 2GB RAM, cold start takes about 15 seconds after which it’s really fast. Also when folks add me to their buddy list, the resulting notification box is cut off halfway split between my 1st and 2nd monitors and is also vertically cut in half at the bottom of the screens as well.
I really like the improved UI polish. It’s really nice and slick (and pretty performant).
Comment by ted — May 1, 2008 #
Thanks Sarah for the fast comment. I support you guys on the project. And if any testing needed. Go ahead and email me.
Comment by Daniel — May 1, 2008 #
also why doesnt it remember my password?
Comment by FarStrider — May 1, 2008 #
now lets see what we have in store with yahoo messenger 9.
Comment by Larry — May 1, 2008 #
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Pingback by Yahoo! Messenger para Vista añade Voz — May 1, 2008 #
Pro:
1. love the interface (color features)
2. love SMS
3. love the TABs (all in one window)
4. like the implode and explode conversation for options
Cons:
1. where are my phone contacts i lost all of them and i cant even re-save them. (love to SMS through YM)
I currently dont use the phone call feature or camera so no comment.
Comment by Jimmy — May 2, 2008 #
I have “just” phone contacts and there is no way putting them into the other i.m. contacts. Do I always have to dial the ph# via keypad - is there no way to save those contacts as a phone contact in the i.m. list???
Comment by Stephan — May 2, 2008 #
i think i will wait for a better one this is not stable
i will use googles talk for now. but keep up the good work.
Comment by e.p — May 2, 2008 #
Can I hope for yahoo messenger on ipod touch?
Comment by i.c. — May 2, 2008 #
[…] for fun, you can even animate your voices as you talk. The all-new voice-enabled beta version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista also lets you SMS your friends’ mobile phones for free. The team’s been busy adding […]
Pingback by Yodel Anecdotal » Blog Archive » Product Pulse — May 2, 2008 — May 2, 2008 #
Hi,
For the past couple releases of YM for windows vista it will install but once opened it will say problem with Yahoo messenger app
I’m running windows vista sp1 home
Comment by Romeo — May 2, 2008 #
I love Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta
Comment by XceNIK Team — May 2, 2008 #
Until yahoo release the final version of messenger for vista, mictosof will release windows 7
Comment by Someone — May 3, 2008 #
I don’t know why i can’t sign in with this version
Although with V 8.1 is Noproblem
Comment by Forever_and_100 — May 3, 2008 #
i have question why is the availble icon yellow?
Comment by FarStrider — May 3, 2008 #
It realy good to see the vista version from yahoo but some of the feature are not there such as web cam, I hope yohoo will introduce very soon best of luck from all vista user.
Comment by vakil — May 3, 2008 #
It will be good if yahoo introduce voice chating in yahoo mesenger for web
some of the office Pc we are unabel to download any software if yahoo introduce voice chating on yahoo messenger for web it will be grate for all who use yahoo messenger for web
Comment by vakil Ahmed — May 3, 2008 #
Nice interface…
But I can`t login in my account
Comment by nora pentr mama — May 3, 2008 #
“…Today we’re releasing an all-new voice-enabled Beta version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. …”
___What’s the big fuss and fanfare ??___
I have Vista, and YM 8.1.0.421, and have been using voice, PC-to-PC AND PhoneOut for at least 2 YEARS, if not 3.
Stop pretending to reinvent the wheel, Yahoo!!
Comment by Eagle_Kiwi (N.Z.) — May 3, 2008 #
ihad vista messenger got no sound ,no chat rooms very hard to use i went back 2 old version, keep up tho it may get better i hopecoz i have alot tied up in this pc 2
Comment by paul hogg — May 3, 2008 #
Eagle_Kiwi: Considering that Y!M Vista Preview didn’t had Voice, I think the release of a Voice-enabled Beta is newsworthy. It’s the Y!M Blog after all.
Comment by dragossh — May 4, 2008 #
Oh and another thing, can we have the same version of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista on Xp too?
Looks great!
Comment by Jaunty Mellifluous — May 4, 2008 #
This version is great. Nice work
Comment by Robert — May 4, 2008 #
I love it.
Comment by jinal — May 4, 2008 #
[…] de la Yahoo au anuntat o noua versiune pentru Yahoo Messenger pentru Vista. Daca pana acum Yahoo Messenger pentru Vista era […]
Pingback by Yahoo Messenger pentru Vista download | PCNews — May 5, 2008 #
Install Unsuccessful. Why is that?? Please Help…
Comment by Eddie — May 5, 2008 #
little improved but its a bit too corny.
Comment by Larry — May 5, 2008 #
You can run the Messenger for vista beta on XP if you install the .NET framwork 3.5
If you don’t have over 2gb of ram on your vista machine this new beta will lag bad.
MSN contacts support is shabby and wont even let you set nicknames on your buddylist for them.
Perferences popup is neat but very untidy, tabbed options window on that popup would make more sense.
Also when you add chat support, put in an option for users to add words to a censor that will make messenger completely discard the sentence, not just blank it out with **** , that feature in the old messengers is serverely outdated and useless.
Option to ignore any pm if the first pm contains a link from non friends.
Ability to block all pm’s from non friends but still be able to see their chatroom text.
If a users posts a line of text in chat followed by the exact same line again, have the messenger truncate the copies leaving the first line (local not serverside).
These are among the things that would make users feel comfortable in using yahoo messenger to access chatrooms instead of using 3rd party software just to feel safe and spam free in yahoo! chatrooms.
Comment by Dermot — May 6, 2008 #
This is beautiful
Comment by Iris Rodriguez — May 6, 2008 #
“You can run the Messenger for vista beta on XP if you install the .NET framwork 3.5″
Did anyone try? I installed framwork 3.5 and tried to install messenger for vista beta for my XP, it didn’t work. Anything further help?
Comment by i.c. — May 6, 2008 #
Sounds cool. I might try it…
Comment by Mystery Girl — May 8, 2008 #
Uses over 200MB of memory, which gets paged, still a little over the top for a messenger program.
Comment by tigger — May 8, 2008 #
all i have 2 say is……………………..IT ROCKS!!!!!!!
Comment by matewie — May 8, 2008 #
nice. what are you planning next? may we know?
Comment by Boxxter — May 9, 2008 #
i love the design and all the new features, looking forward to webcam and chatroom soon…wish you intergrated them with the beta but still very wonderful work, thanks a million!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Jeff — May 9, 2008 #
plsssssssssss………….invite me
Comment by pink_po2001 — May 10, 2008 #
hello, everytime I try to make a PC-to-PC call, I get an ERROR! It says YM-vista has stopped working and must be closed… what is the deal with THAT??
Comment by Mark — May 10, 2008 #
Hmmm…it seems too much like the windows live messenger..especially in the upper part of all the windows.
Lets hope Yahoo is not going to copy the (ugly) windows live messenger.
Comment by gowest — May 10, 2008 #
this is so cool
Comment by Kayla — May 11, 2008 #
Hmmm…it seems too much like the windows live messenger..especially in the upper part of all the windows.
Lets hope Yahoo is not going to copy the (ugly) windows live messenger.
LOL it’s practically a carbon copy of windows live damn now yahoo is using google search althrogram LOL can you guys do ANYTHING for yourselves here are some examples… coincidence i think not.
1 gmail comes with a 1gb space … low and behold yahoo upgrades to 1gb free
2 gmaill is launched with p2p voice.. low and behold yahoo magically gets it
3 gmail has ims via email section of your account… low and behold yahoo gets it
4 gmail lets you import contacts WOW yahoo suddenly got it in 8.1
get a frigin grip yahoo your stocks are plumeting faster than a hoes pants frankly you deserve it all you have done for the public in the last 3 years to control spam is what use a CAPTCHA that fails miserably you have treated the public like fools and boy are you paying the price now LOL
O BTW mark my words yahoo will have the new animal CAPTCHA soon (microsofts idea) need i go on lol what a farse your company has become a laughing stock yahoo aka yahell i no longer use your bloated pile of junk you call a messenger
i did for a long time and find your demise highly amusing lmao
Comment by Karl Mayhew — May 11, 2008 #