Myspace recently released “MyspaceIM” into BETA testing. It is basically an instant messenger service that you can use on Myspace’s site to speak to your friends (like the one on Facebook).
They originally released this about a month ago as a UK only feature because the release was sponsored by a UK brand of toothpaste (I’m not sure why). I had a chance to play about with it a bit then before all the people from the US and the rest of the world got to test it out and it was okay but it still had that “We are trying to release the same features as Facebook” feel behind it, and it still does. Saying that, I can see why they wanted to add a web based IM instead of their old Myspace IM that you had to download and install, a lot more people will use it for a start.
What it is
It is a web based Instant Messaging service that allows you to send IM’s to any of your Myspace friends that are online at the same time as you. It is that simple.
It’s basically a bar at the bottom of any page on Myspace (well, except a few) that you can click on and expand to show the IM options:
Some features include:
Collapsible IM bar
You can hide the IM bar for a while if you like just by clicking the two arrows at the right hand side of it (and do the same to expand it again).
Pop Out Window
If you click on “Pop out IM” then it opens a new window (or tab) that has all the IM options on it. I find that doing this is easier if you use it a lot, it means that if your browsing around Myspace then the IM page doesn’t need to reload all the time.
Privacy Options
You can choose who can send you an IM - everyone, all IM and Myspace Friends or just your IM friends. You do that in your privacy settings here.
You can set up a list of “IM Friends” that are the only ones you want to talk to on the IM. This is limited to 1000 friends. You can change that here.
Some more Features
- You can block people from contacting you via the block button
- You can set your online status to offline (so hidden).
- You do not need to download anything or install any plugin into your browser to use it.
- Some pages do not have it (e.g. games, classifieds, etc) and I am not sure if Myspace plan to put it on those pages or not yet.
- Your IM chats stay with you as you browse the Myspace website.
- You can set it to play a noise or not when you receive a new message.
There really isn’t much else to it.
My thoughts
I think that because of the Facebook IM system Myspace have tried to compete with them in this field as well. The Myspace IM and Facebook IM don’t have many differences apart from the look of them, it’s pretty much the same functionality. I do think that this was the next step for Myspace’s IM though, it is much better than the application you had to download and install.
What do you think?
Related:
Responses to “Myspace Web based Instant Messenger”
May 26th, 2009 at 1:27 am
yeah i think it is better than the one you download about how many more weeks will it be down
January 4th, 2011 at 9:06 am
I use to like myspace a lot but now it sucks so I use facebook mostly but I have never liked facebook and I hate that you can’t search for your friends using their email address.
I need the old myspace instant messenger download though because all the friends that I had on initially and all the new friends added are on the contact list of the old myspace instant messenger.
My friend still has the old IM program installed on his pc and today when I logged in using it I was able to see friend’s who I have since deleted from my contact list at my profile.
I guess it wouldn’t matter to most because they probably deleted people for a reason but I’ve been searching for a certain profile that I set up for a friend using pictures of my ass (lol) and his email changed and other log in info has been forgotten so access to the profile is impossible and so is locating the profile without sending in a salutation.. but I would rather not do that and bring attn to those pictures so I would like to install that old IM program so that I can hopefully gain info about that aforementioned profile.
January 4th, 2011 at 9:14 am
ps.. why was it that everyone suddenly migrated to facebook from myspace. I had both profiles but never used the facebook until whenever it was approx a year ago that everyone started dropping out at myspace and showing up at facebook.
I’ve never liked facebook, I hate their format and I hate all the application bullshit that requires you allow them access to your information.
I wish I could have the old myspace back.. they have features that aren’t available at facebook like knowing the status of an email you sent, whether it’s still unread or if it’s been read or a reply has been sent. Also, now there’s that feature that shows you who has visited your profile with the option to turn off that feature.
The only reason I liked facebook was because of the games but the constant advertising drives me crazy so I don’t even play the games there anymore.
I only have the profile now so that I can keep connections to friends and family who don’t live nearby.
I always thought that it was facebook who copied myspace but then somehow facebook gained more popularity and myspace became a booty call, social network.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
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