• April 10, 2007

Microsoft Corp. is launching Windows Live Messenger on its Xbox 360, an entertainment system, so users can message directly from their television.

The Xbox 360's free spring update, which starts the week of May 7, will provide Xbox 360 owners worldwide with access to Windows Live Messenger features. The service will allow users to text chat with up to six people on their contact list at one time while playing games, listening to music or watching movies. Individuals can already use Xbox Live to communicate via voice and video chat.

Microsoft said it will launch a Qwerty text-input device over the summer that will connect directly to the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.

Windows Live Messenger currently has more than 260 million active accounts, the company said.