Msn Access Using Trillian Deadline Oct 15.

MSN Messenger upgrade may block Trillian

Jim Hu , August 23, 2003

Microsoft is forcing people to upgrade to newer versions of its instant messenger application and is shutting its doors to third-party IM products such as Trillian.

As of Oct. 15, users of Microsoft's free Web-based MSN Messenger and its Windows XP-based Windows Messenger will need to upgrade their software to a newer version or be shut out of the service, the software giant said Wednesday. MSN Messenger users will need to upgrade to version 5.0 of higher; Windows Messengers customers will need to upgrade to version 4.7.2009 or higher; and consumers with MSN Messenger for Mac OS X will have to use version 3.5 or higher. The last MSN Messenger to be released was version 6.

According to Microsoft spokesman Sean Sundwall, "Security issues that could be posed (on older versions) require us to force an upgrade." He declined to detail the security issue, saying disclosure would "put customers at undue risk."

Meanwhile, Oct. 15 also will mark the deadline for Trillian support for MSN Messenger. Trillian is software that integrates multiple IM clients into a common interface. While it doesn't enable IM services to communicate directly with one another, it lets people view all of their buddy lists from various services under one window.

Sundwall said the company is opening doors to discuss contractual agreements with third-party integrators, but he would not give definitive assurances that Trillian users will be able to access their MSN contacts after the deadline.

"We certainly would urge third parties who want to continue (hosting the MSN software) to contact us before Oct. 15 when they will no longer be able to access the network," Sundwall said.

A Trillian representative did not return an e-mail requesting comment.

The policy shift comes as the Federal Communications Commission lifted rules restricting America Online from offering high-speed IM services. Microsoft was one of the most outspoken critics of AOL's IM dominance and was instrumental in lobbying the FCC to impose IM restrictions as part of the AOL-Time Warner merger approval.

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#51909

i read that at MSFN too. sad.. microsoft is being very unfair. Bill Gates must have loved the game "monopoly" when he was a kid

#51913

this really sucks...i have 6, but i wanna keep trillian...booger!

#51914

not true. cerulean studios already has agreements with ms over this.

see here: http://trillian.cc/forums/showthread.php?s...&threadid=42884

and here: http://trillian.cc/forums/showthread.php?s...&threadid=43649

looks like trillian should be ok.

there's always miranda too.

edit: just noticed, i'm now "floodmaster." :woot: :lol:

#51918

I don't use MSN or Trillian, so what the hey. Everyone should use AIM, its simply the best chat tool!!!

#51920

Originally posted by nrzero@Aug 30 2003, 11:50 AM
I don't use MSN or Trillian, so what the hey. Everyone should use AIM, its simply the best chat tool!!!

anyone agree i should give the guy a warning for supporting aol? :6 lol j/j

#52016

I'll agree with you Timan. :evil:

FatAxl :own:

#52031

i'm with you too! aol? grr! :lol: :rolleyes:

#52075

I would not worry about this very much.

Any progressive third party IM client developer(s) constantly updates their protocol plugins to support the newest issues with any IM network.

For example, the Miranda network protocol plugins are updated almost daily sometimes and I'm sure as big a user base as Trillian has, that they do the same as well.

I seriosuly doubt that Microsoft is interested in starting another IM client war the way that AIM did awhile back.

I feel it's probably about security just as MS stated. They have been getting hit very hard in the security area lately as evidenced by the LoveSan worm and its' new variations that are appearing on the net almost daily now.

Speaking of LoveSan variations. Has anyone noticed any unusal activity in their firewall logs over the last 2 weeks?

I have noticed that the source of attacks was localized computers on the same ISP as myself prior to 2 weeks ago, but now I'm getting port scans from IPs on remote ISP's orginating in places like Japan, Hong Hong and even some from the US. I'm in New Zealand, in case anyone is wondering.

I suspect some virus/worm writer got ahold of the LoveSan IP scan algorithm and tweaked it to be even more virulent. A**hole!

Grusic

#52081

what if ms charges for licenses, though? trillian might be able to afford it by charging for pro, but what will miranda and gaim do? that's what i wonder about.

security could just be a mask for aggressive monopolization.

#52087

Originally posted by dreamz@Aug 31 2003, 04:52 PM
what if ms charges for licenses, though?

In regards to MS charging for licenses and what Miranda and GAIM will do, I have no idea really.

I do know that the Miranda devs already have a MSN v8 protocol compatible plug, I'm using it now.

And yes, this move could be MS trying to monopolize the IM realm, but why would they do that? They already pretty much have a lock on it anyway as it is packaged free with their OS offerings.

What advantage would be to for them to lock it and start charging for it? Yes, granted they would make more money, but is that really an issue for Bill Gates or MS at this piont? The company is already rolling in billions of dollars as it is.

My thinking is quite Buddhist in prospective in that I have enough to live on and I am not interested in excess. I realize that the majority of the world may not think that way and see having more and more as a good thing.

If you can name some advantage if would offer them, I'm open to discussing it.

Grusic

#52091

Hey, I love my money very much.

Well, you got to remember, there is more than just Bill Gates in Microsoft. Heck, at first, Billy forgot what LongHorn really did (compared to XP) in an interview. Regardless, Trillian is on top of things. Even so, Trillian can update free versions with the proper protocol, so there is no real worry.

#52170

@grusic:

yeah, i'm using miranda + msn8 protocol right now too.

but why try and monopolize? yeah, they do have enough money, but does that mean they'll stop trying to make money? that's his business--trying to make more money. they do it because they can.

and i know what you mean about excesses. i'm a buddhist too (with taoist beliefs)so in terms of ms' behavior, it can only mean increasing suffering.

#52190

@dreamz: Yes, they do it because they can. It's shameful really. There are lots of things one could do just because one can. For example, I could go out and murder someone, sell drugs on the corner, beat my wife, rape the environment, run for president and manipulate the worlds' economy, but I choose not to as these things would cause extreme suffering to many beings and to ultimately myself.

Perhaps if Bill and MS put all that money into truly trying to enrich the world and fostering a spirit of cooperation, sharing and trust, their OS' would not be the target of a new internet worm every other day.

Gates seems to dead set on locking everything up for his benefit and yet his karma has it that his products are the most insecure in the world right now and are subject to attack on all fronts.

Grusic

#52233

then again, some say it's just a matter of good marketing/business, a perspective that is just as arbitrary as buddhism. to say definitively that it is entirely wrong in all respects from one perspective is to impose a particular value system.

it is rather shameful, though, that he tries so hard to beat everyone out of the game and try to reap all the profits for himself, but we can't expect everyone to adhere to the same convictions.

in his defense, at least he gives millions to charities and foundations.

#52254

in trillian pro i used to get a msg (since i came back from vacation) that i must upgarde client when i signed on to MSN. i just installed trillian pro 2.0 (beta3) and now i dot get that msg so i presume pro 2.0 is compliant already.

#52257

yup, you presume correctly. :lol:

updates for 0.74d and 1.0c will follow soon.

#52258