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Microsoft Discontinues MSN for Mac OS X Software

Microsoft Discontinues MSN for Mac OS X Software

by , 8:00 PM EST, March 11th, 2005

After May 31, 2005, MSN customers will no longer be able to access Microsoft's Internet service using its Mac OS X software, the company announced Friday. Mac customers who want to continue using the service will be able to tap into MSN and read their e-mail through any Web browser.

"MSN for Mac OS X Internet Software is what's going away, so what customers who choose to stay with the service will then do is they will access the MSN features via a Web browser, essentially go through everything online and have their email online," a Microsoft spokesperson told TMO. "They'll set up a my.msn.com homepage, [and] they will aggregate news in the same fashion that the Dashboard did in the software."

Microsoft's decision was due in part to the relatively small number of Mac OS X users who are MSN subscribers. "Essentially there just wasn't as much of a need for it anymore," the spokesperson said.

The move does not affect development of MSN Messenger for Mac OS X in "any way," the spokesperson stressed. "That is still being developed."

Microsoft has posted more information about the changes with MSN for Mac OS X on this page.

Brad Gibson contributed to this article.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:DeKU Posts: 536 Joined: 27 Jun 2001
Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:41 pm Subject: ok

so, how many users were there? 2?


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:48 pm Subject: Who want's to support microsoft anyway!??

Great, who cares. No one is using msn to access the internet or e-mail anyway. One would think they'd be using a .mac and safari or open source browser. Who want's to support microsoft!?


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Close Name:Kircle Posts: 271 Joined: 06 May 2004
Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:59 pm Subject:

thank goodness messenger is still around.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:36 pm Subject: Who?

Who is this Micro Soft, and what do they do? Must not be much of a loss for the Macintosh Nation.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:42 pm Subject:

Quote
DeKU wrote:
so, how many users were there? 2?


You are an optimist!


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:55 pm Subject: Tiger iChat to support MSN?

If iChat supports MSN, then we probably don't care about the Mac MSN client being dropped.

Of course, you can always use Adium, Fire, etc., but I expect most people would just prefer to use iChat.

I tried using the "official" AIM client once, but I was horrified by the advertising, pop-ups, etc. - if the MSN client has that kind of crap, good riddance!!


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:01 am Subject: they scaried me for a second...

I don't think I even know what it is that went away. I won't care about messenger if I didn't know so many silly people who refuse to use AOL. But I do want to be able to talk to them on MSN. I didn't even know that microsuck made other msn software I always thought the rest of whatever it was that I didn't care about was just on a web page.. the things you learn....


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:31 am Subject: Some care...

Actually whether or not you want to support them, around here if you go dial up your only choice is Qwest, and although they used to have a great system, they sold out to MSN a few years ago and the only way you could get hooked up involved using MSN.

There are work arounds, but the newbie usually has no idea what to use so they go with the MSN stuff. It's gonna make my life in tech support busy for a week or so. : )


Great, who cares. No one is using msn to access the internet or e-mail anyway. One would think they'd be using a .mac and safari or open source browser. Who want's to support microsoft!?


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Mar 12, 2005 11:23 am Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
silly people who refuse to use AOL.


you misspelled intelligent...

not for using MSN, but for not using AOL...AOL represents everything wrong with wen users today, 99% oif the peopel using it are complete morons...


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Mar 12, 2005 2:57 pm Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
silly people who refuse to use AOL.


you misspelled intelligent...

not for using MSN, but for not using AOL...AOL represents everything wrong with wen users today, 99% oif the peopel using it are complete morons...


and you misspelled "of", "people"... and I'm not sure what that "wen"'s all about


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Close Name:Guest
Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:17 am Subject: Qwest Users

I forget the specifics, but from what my dad was saying last year, Qwest's internet service was in some way tied to or included MSN service. This ticked him off. Luckily he found he didn't have to use the service. Nevertheless, the os X client did come out, so it was a possibility.

my 2 cents


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Close Name:Mikuro Posts: 457 Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Sun Mar 13, 2005 2:18 pm Subject: AOL ? AIM

AOL = bad. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) = good (as a protocol). The standard client sucks, but there are plenty to choose from on any platform, like iChat or Fire for OS X.

Quote
Guest wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
silly people who refuse to use AOL.


you misspelled intelligent...

not for using MSN, but for not using AOL...AOL represents everything wrong with wen users today, 99% oif the peopel using it are complete morons...


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Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:24 pm Subject: Re Qwest

By default Qwest likes to use MSN as the ISP. They don't advertise it, but you can also get Qwest DLS at any speed you want without an ISP. This means that you don't get an email account nor the other stuff that you might get with MSN. (And it's much cheaper!) The only thing I would use is the email address, but heck, since it's msn, I'd prefer to use GMail, Yahoo or something else that's free.


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:09 pm Subject:

mac users need the NEW MSN MESSENGER


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:17 pm Subject: OMG

wow. way to over use upper-case, people.

Why would anyone use MSN on ANY platform?

Be it Mac OSX, windows, linux whatever, its always gunna suck cause its rushed money pinching software courtesy of microsoft

And for you morons up there, it says that MSN MESSENGER is NOT BEING CANCELLED, bunch of #@!$ tards


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Close Name:Guest
Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:31 am Subject: Msn for Mac OS 10.2.8.....(i think)

I have msn messenger 4.0.1 and it sucks. And i CAN NOT get anything better!!!!! can anyone help me or tell me when a new one is comming out? i am desperate!!!!!!


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Close Name:Guest
Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:34 am Subject: Crappy MSN for Mac OS 10.2.8 (I think) need help!!!!!!!!!!!

Msn for Mac OS 10.2.8 sucks! i need something better that has display pics, webcam and stuff... where do i get it? or iss there a new one comming soon
?


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Close Name:coaten Posts: 3071 Joined: 10 Oct 2001
Mon Aug 29, 2005 2:46 am Subject: Re: Crappy MSN for Mac OS 10.2.8 (I think) need help!!!!!!!!

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Msn for Mac OS 10.2.8 sucks! i need something better that has display pics, webcam and stuff... where do i get it? or iss there a new one comming soon
?


One word: Adium

Go here:

http://www.adiumx.com/


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Close Name:Guest
Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:39 am Subject: I need an msn messenger that has WEBCAM!!!

Look, all my m8s hav msn tat can view webcams and i really want tat aswell!! Im doin everything i can 2 get it and it still doesnt work. Plz plz plz plz plz plz make a new msn for mac so i can use webcam!!


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Close Name:jinkies -   Evil Girl of TMO Posts: 3846 Joined: 24 Sep 2001
Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:03 pm Subject: Re: I need an msn messenger that has WEBCAM!!!

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Look, all my m8s hav msn tat can view webcams and i really want tat aswell!! Im doin everything i can 2 get it and it still doesnt work. Plz plz plz plz plz plz make a new msn for mac so i can use webcam!!


It's possible you aren't allowed to have this technology and we're all withholding it from you. Use your words like a big boy.


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Close Name:coaten Posts: 3071 Joined: 10 Oct 2001
Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:20 am Subject:

Seconded.


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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:22 pm Subject:

i just got the macbook pro .. i kind of disapointed that msn in mac version... I sort of looking for other software like msn which can support the built in web cam ~


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Close Name:Guest
Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:30 pm Subject: cam

how do u get cam to work on msn for mac os x


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Close Name:LaurieF -   TMO Forum Mod Posts: 3547 Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:42 am Subject:

Since you obviously can't read, you can't be helped.


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:01 am Subject: webcam 4 mac

if you want a mac im app which has webcam and works with yahoo and msn fine try mecury messenger
(google it)


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