MSN Messenger Within the Xbox 360 - Change is on the Way
By Jeff Hilimire on Monday, April 9th, 2007The revolution has started. Ryan mentioned in a recent blog post about the game console moving in the direction of becoming our new home-based PC. And why not? Consoles such as the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Nintendo Wii are beginning to have many of the same capabilities as our computers and they hook up to the mother of all monitors - our constantly getting bigger, flatter and better TVs. Many of these boxes now come with the ability to browse the web and interact with other players in real time; and let’s face it, those systems make our home computers look like Commodore 64’s*.
Now there’s something a little different happening. Microsoft has just announced that starting on May 7th, 2007, Xbox 360s will be upgraded to include MSN Messenger, allowing Xbox LIVE subscribers to communicate with anyone that uses Messenger IM, either on a PC or mobile device. There are an estimated 260 million people that currently use MSN Messenger as their IM platform.
I’m telling you, this is the beginning. The game (no pun intended) has just been blown wide open. It was cool back in the day when you started to be able to interact with other users on a given gaming console (like with Xbox LIVE) and even cooler when PS3 announced it was going to create a virtual world called “Home” for their users. But now that we can start interacting with people from our PCs that are currently on their Xbox 360, everything will change.
For instance, there still has not been a great way for someone on a computer to interact with someone on a mobile device and I think that’s mainly because it hasn’t been something that people have asked for. If I happen to be sitting at my computer and someone sends me a text message, I can’t (easily) receive that message on my computer - I have to grab my cell phone and text them back. The change to open peoples’ minds to the idea that they can chat from their PC with their friend who is on a gaming console will start the process of people asking the question - “why can’t I communicate with someone from any device I want?” If I happen to be on my phone, or in front of my computer, or on my gaming console, or in my car, why can’t I receive my messages in that setting - one that is conducive to that setting? If someone texts me in my car, I should be able to receive it in a verbal format instead of trying to read and text back via my phone while I merge into traffic going 70 mph in rush hour (I’m really good at driving with my knees not that I’ve ever done that of course).
The point is, we’re at the beginning stages of major change. And I’m curious if any of you see these changes coming and what your perspective is.
* Not that there is anything wrong with the Commodore 64, my first love computer
Interesting to see this merge and your perspective on it. A year and a half ago I thought that game consoles were going to fade away because of the ability to play, interact and create online - but the idea of the game console becoming the computer and especially the idea of the mother of all monitors makes sense. Wow… I really do not know what to expect from the geek world anymore. Good thing I just have to sell/consult on this stuff and can stay flexible
I totally agree! I don’t think this marks the beginning of the shift, but it’s definitely a sign that it’s hit high gear! MSN Messenger is still a closed system, but even that may change sometime in the future.
“The change to open peoples’ minds to the idea that they can chat from their PC with their friend who is on a gaming console will start the process of people asking the question - “why can’t I communicate with someone from any device I want?””
Twitter is actually a primitive example of what you’re describing here. While there’s lots of hype and backlash around how people are currently using it, what’s being built on the backend is a platform to do just that. Right now, I can twitter messages from my web browser, my mobile phone, and from an instant message window. Because of third party use of the API, I’m also able to send and recieve messages from third party desktop clients, and also in Second Life. If I’m at my computer and recieve a twitter via my phone, I respond using my web browser or Second Life usually.
People are also talking about using Twitter as a command line for web services and home automation. Take that idea into Second Life (this is already on the way) and you can interact with virtual objects (not to mention people) from whatever medium you happen to be closest to.
Unfortunately MSN Messanger isn’t yet supported by Twitter, but the power of these concepts is staggering. Definitely Metaversal!
I think consoles will become more, rather than less important entertainment hubs for the home. They are far less complicated to use and far less expensive than PC’s, and they can be more easily (and unobtrusively) placed in the living room. IM may help solidify the position as a communications/entertainment hub.
I think Sony and Microsoft (in spite of the marginal Windows Media Center product) believe that the entertainment PC will become a more specialized and specialized device and consoles will be sufficient for most consumers, and IM functionality is a natural extension.
– mike
www.startuplounge.com
Jeff - small point, but it’s actually very easy to interact via text message from your PC with someone on a phone (and vice versa).
Yeah I’ve heard of some software that does it but haven’t seen anything easy to use. I was also more thinking of it in terms of communication just knowing where I was at that point in time. If I’m working on my computer and I prefer to always get texts there, then they go there. If I walk across the street I’d get the communication via my cell phone. If I’m in my car and I prefer to get communication read to me through my speakers, etc.
I think this is a great example of cross-device communication that suggests where things are going. I should be able to access my data–whether it’s messages, content, etc.–whenever and with whatever device I choose. AT&T seems to be going in this direction with its “3 screens” and “digital lifestyles” initiatives http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=7857, and I’m sure other companies are, too. From a usability perspective, I think in this “digital lifestyle” the PC and web may continue to be the core interface for setting preferences and more complex tasks related to managing our data.
Well Sherry what you said I quote “I thought that game consoles were going to fade away because of the ability to play, interact and create online” I struggle to understand how you have come to this idea as last year alone the console industry pulled in a whopping 6.8 billion compared to 1.3 billion which PC/Internet games pulled in, and the games industry as a whole leads over all other types of digital entertainment. I my self own a Xbox 360 due to the fact I have friends who have moved overseas due to work or are based with the army and Xbox live and the 360 is the only network/system that makes us all feel like we are in all sat in the same room chilling playing games or watching movies together, far better than any web cam. And now with the added msn I can see on my way home from work by looking at my cell phone who’s on what their doing and sand them an IM asking for an invite to what ever their session is. I think some people here are possibly over thinking the msn add on trying to work out where it’s all going. I miss my friends and visa versa anything that helps us feel more connected is welcome with out questions and the 360 does it very well. Some people moan that Microsoft is trying to take over the world lol but really if the 360 is their first step towards it then I’m sold take the world lets all have fun and enjoy being in touch no matter what distance just get connected.