Understanding what version has which features
September 17, 2008 on 2:58 pm | In Features | 36 Comments
Over the last couple of years, the number of products that Yahoo! Messenger offers has increased. We re-launched the Mac version, introduced Yahoo! Messenger for the Web, and kicked off Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. And our original Windows client is on its 9.0 release.
One of the challenges of having different versions for different platforms is achieving feature parity across them. Our versions that have been around for awhile tend to have more of the core features; newer versions like Messenger for Vista are still growing and developing their core features.
How do you find out which version of Yahoo! Messenger is right for you?
The first place to look is on our website where you’ll find a chart that details which features are available in each version of Yahoo! Messenger. If there’s a particular feature that’s critical for you to have, just find it in the list and confirm which versions support it. For example, if you have a Vista PC and webcam in Messenger is a critical feature for you, you’ll need to use Yahoo! Messenger 9.0.
Below is a simple chart showing the breadth of features across our different versions. Our 9.0 version, which also works on Vista, has all the features like webcam, voice, chat rooms, file transfer etc. Move down the chart to Messenger in Mail and you’re getting just the most basic features like being able to tell when your friends are online and sending IMs.
While our web-based versions will continue to offer the more basic features, we are working toward feature parity across our downloadable clients for XP, Vista and Mac. But in the meantime, I hope you’ll find this information helpful when deciding on the right Messenger for yourself or a friend.
Sarah Bacon
Product Manager
Trying to understand the differences – does Mac support voice conferences?
Comment by Brenden — September 17, 2008 #
Hi Brenden,
No, the Mac version does not support voice conferencing. It supports conferencing and voice calls, but not the voice feature within conferences. Only our 8.1 and 9.0 versions support voice within IM conferences.
Sarah Bacon
Comment by Administrator — September 17, 2008 #
When will Vista users see chat and webcam capabilities added?
Comment by ken_tuck2002 — September 17, 2008 #
I Want Webcam for Yahoo! MEssenger for vista.
Comment by Adrian — September 17, 2008 #
That chart is not correct. You can’t count features in mac version that haven’t worked in weeks/months as features.
Comment by MysticalOS — September 17, 2008 #
You make it sound sarah like there wont be anything else added to vista messenger that 9.0 is going to beat vista messenger….
Comment by Daniel — September 18, 2008 #
MysticalOS, I suggest that you start considering your issues to be based on your system hardware, software conflict with other programs OR a corrupted installation of OS X, NOT Yahoo Messenger itself. I have never seen any of the issue you have reported, not even when using Yahoo Messenger for Mac on AppleSeed releases of OS X. File Transfers have never failed for me, Webcam support has ALWAYS worked for me, both in receiving and sending video between other OS X users as well as Windows users; Chatrooms and Stealth Settings have always worked without fail for me as well.
Comment by Joel Schmidt — September 18, 2008 #
Joel, the web cam issue is a known bug in this version of Yahoo! Messenger for Mac. Just because it works for you does not mean that it works for everyone.
Neither Apple nor Yahoo! make perfect software.
Comment by Dustin Cook — September 19, 2008 #
i can’t find pc to pc voice option in my messenger….so pls give me the direction to find that option…i v messenger8.1and runnin with xp
Comment by ARJUN — September 19, 2008 #
@ARJUN – When you’re in an IM conversation with someone, look for the “Call” button at the top of the IM window. Click that to initiate a call to your friend’s PC.
Note they your friend has to also to be a Yahoo! Messenger user and signed into Yahoo! Messenger 7.0 or later, Yahoo! Messenger for Vista (latest version), or Yahoo! Messenger for Mac (latest version).
Sarah Bacon
Comment by Administrator — September 19, 2008 #
Dustin, I never said it does work for everyone or that Apple or Yahoo make perfect software… that is why I’m a member of the OS X Appleseed team… But if you go back through the list of Mac version releases of Yahoo Messenger, you’ll see that MysticalOS complains about the exact same problems every time and always puts the blame on Yahoo without ever stating what steps (if any) they took regarding their system or other software running at the same time to determine that the issue is specifically with YIM…
I am willing to accept that the issues could be YIM specific, but I have a strong feeling that it is in fact a combination of events that are causing the problems, not just one thing.
Comment by Joel Schmidt — September 19, 2008 #
Will there ever be a way to set your stealth settings while signed into a mobile device? Like you can when you sign into messenger itself? Also, will there ever be a way to send video clips via sms from messenger to a mobile device?
Comment by diverqueensolo — September 20, 2008 #
I am still waiting to be able to enter a chat room and see text without having to allow anyone to be able to add me to messenger. I would rather have the settings set so that only my contacts can see me and communicate with me. Right now, in order to see text show in the chat rooms, you have to allow everyone when I would prefer to have my settings set so that only friends can see me.
Comment by krunk again — September 21, 2008 #
I just downloaded the latest update for Beta 9.0 XXXX and now my messenger won’t load at all. I have Vista. I keep getting a message that windows is trying to fix the problem.
Comment by Cindy — September 21, 2008 #
Moving forward into the 9.0 release, PLEASE give the options for smaller and larger emoticons. Not a fan of the larger ones and they don’t show as displayed.
Comment by pad408 — September 22, 2008 #
I am having problems when i download the vista messenger its says signing in and then says sorry we were unable to begin the login process please check your network connections and i can use any other version please help thanks.
Comment by Jennifer — September 23, 2008 #
Why is it that the XP version, the most fully featured version of Yahoo Messenger, is missing ONE feature that all the other versions have?
TABBED IMs!!!
Heck, even AIM has tabbed IMs. Is it that difficult a feature to add? Really?
Comment by k1darkknight — September 24, 2008 #
sux that I cant have a Lite (older) version..a simple IM is beyond Yahoo’s capabilities?Why all the Bloat-ware,ads, why are you trying to sell me something of yours that I am using already?I had to pay extra for a yahoo package w/ my dsl..why nail me because i chose an older browser?my ‘57 T-Bird will run on pump gas…Your technology seems to pale in Comparison.get better, not worse.
Comment by billy — September 24, 2008 #
why in the xp 9.0.0.1912 can i not find the link to yahoo chat or to search for other member on line
Comment by dave — September 25, 2008 #
[...] reflexión aparte, pienso que es una lástima que Yahoo decida incorporar más caracterÃsticas en su Messenger para Windows tradicional que en el cliente especialmente diseñado para Vista, ya que al hacer eso están desperdiciando las [...]
Pingback by Berreando.com — September 26, 2008 #
I can’t get Messenger 9.0 to install. When trying to install 9.0 I get a “can’t install” window and the whole installation renders unsuccessful.
Comment by Preston — September 26, 2008 #
[...] reflexión aparte, pienso que es una lástima que Yahoo decida incorporar más caracterÃsticas en su Messenger para Windows tradicional que en el cliente especialmente diseñado para Vista, ya que al hacer eso están desperdiciando las [...]
Pingback by Yahoo Messenger 9.0 deja de ser Beta : Blogografia /version beta/ — September 26, 2008 #
OK so since 9 is final, will the team working on the Vista version get it final?
I’m still wondering why even bother with any more versions for XP, its on the way out, Windows 7 will be out in beta by end of year which is coded to vista too, forget XP code and concentrate on vista, It needs ALL the features added
Comment by HOODY — September 26, 2008 #
DANG people, i can’t believe all the whining I see about a FREE service! Get over it, move on. So far I have found the 9.0 version to be very refreshing. I like the new animations on the emoticons, the audibles still make me laugh, and whoever thought of launchcast was a genius!
Comment by Autumnwind — September 28, 2008 #
Installed 9.0.0.1912..have xphome svpk3 paying for yahoo voice sv., but voice mail is not being forwarded to my yahoo email acct as it should be.
Comment by misty — September 30, 2008 #
Is the yahoo messenger team retarded or something? They’re focusing more on the XP version when support for it will end in 2009. Yahoo messenger team needs to remove their heads out of their ass and add these common features in vista. I really wish yahoo would have sold over to Microsoft.
Comment by sly — September 30, 2008 #
I have windows xp and my friend does also but when she calls me she can hear me but I can not here her. WHY?
Comment by raelee — October 1, 2008 #
[...] and More. This blog post also has more help on understanding which version has which features: Yahoo! Messenger Blog » Understanding what version has which features angaryone: how can i recieve a pc to pc call dawn2210: Can you make a version of this for windows [...]
Pingback by Chat live with the Yahoo! Messenger Team - BigBlueBall Forums — October 6, 2008 #
how can i download the old version of yahoo messenger?
Comment by rose — October 7, 2008 #
I cannot get the latest version of ym to run on Vista like several others on here. Is the a way to either get it to work or can i download th older beta 9 which worked on vista?
Comment by Scott — October 13, 2008 #
When is the Mac version of messenger gonna see at least a partial feature parity to the windows version? Alot of simple things that you would EXPECT to work in a mac version don’t, specifically photoshare. It’s rather pathetic to see all this work on audibles and IMvironments when basic features are lacking.
Comment by Mike — October 31, 2008 #
stavo cercando per informazione stato necessario per cose molto tempo. Grazie!!))
Comment by chicas latinas — November 15, 2008 #
i have downloaded y messnger 9.0 india.i m using window xp.i have not found pc to pc call option .plz help me
Comment by lucky gill — December 19, 2008 #
i installed ym version 9.0 but signing in to mobile device cannot be found. where can i find the “sign in to mobile device” in the tabs?
Comment by gildz — February 7, 2009 #
I latest version of yahoo,i am not able to find out the chat room option in it.
can someone lease help me.
Comment by amar — February 17, 2009 #
I have a Linux based eeePC and 2 other machines that run only on Linux. Only missing feature is the Yahoo Messenger for voice and video chat. Yahoo has not released anything since version 1 about 4-5 years ago for linux. Is there any plan to include a Linux version with video chat capabilities in the near future with so many Netbooks coming out with Linux and even Android. Other competitors like Skype are already out with their video chat version for Linux.
Comment by Joe User — February 22, 2009 #