Rumor: New Yahoo Messenger for the Mac?

[nder]

According to (of all places) Wikipedia, Yahoo is planning an update to the Mac version of its messenger.

Yahoo! reports that there is no timeline set for the release of any updates for the Apple Macintosh messenger. There are unconfirmed rumors however that Yahoo! plans to respond to criticism from Mac users with a new client sometime in the near future.

It seems that the timing might be right.

Yahoo! has announced a partnership with Microsoft to join their instant messaging networks. This would make Yahoo! Messenger compatible with Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service. It would also make Microsoft's MSN Messenger compatible with Yahoo!'s Network. This change is expected to take effect in the first half of 2006.

When Yahoo and MS integrate their messaging protocols, it will mean that competition will be driven, not by the size of their respective networks (the size of the user base) but by the quality of the IM app. Right now, Yahoo messenger is old, ugly, and feature dead. Its about time for an update, and now is the right time.

Does anyone have any concrete information on this?

 

[Bern]

Well I'm not expecting much. Yahoo to begin with didn't have the same features as their windows version and the idea of them partnering with M$ indicates that we Mac users can expect even less.

 

[jholzner]

Well I'm not expecting much. Yahoo to begin with didn't have the same features as their windows version and the idea of them partnering with M$ indicates that we Mac users can expect even less.

True but MS did say at MacWorld that a new version of Messanger was on its way. Maybe it will have yahoo integration. I don't use MSN messanger ever but I do use Yahoo! from time to time with those who refuse to switch to AIM or Jabber. I would like to see an updated Yahoo! messagner 'cause the old one sucks big time on the Mac.

 

[Boelman]

it better be good because i have always used aol or the ichat function on the mac. Yahoo just doesnt do it for me.

 

[Verto]

I would LOVE it if MSN and Yahoo allowed their user base to communicate across platform, while adding voice chat to the Mac versions of their clients.

But I don't want to get my hopes up.

 

[Bern]

True but MS did say at MacWorld that a new version of Messanger was on its way. Maybe it will have yahoo integration. I don't use MSN messanger ever but I do use Yahoo! from time to time with those who refuse to switch to AIM or Jabber. I would like to see an updated Yahoo! messagner 'cause the old one sucks big time on the Mac.

M$ also said they are 100% committed to continued development for the Mac platform and the following day announced they were no longer developing WMP for Mac.

 

[howesey]

True but MS did say at MacWorld that a new version of Messanger was on its way. Maybe it will have yahoo integration. I don't use MSN messanger ever but I do use Yahoo! from time to time with those who refuse to switch to AIM or Jabber. I would like to see an updated Yahoo! messagner 'cause the old one sucks big time on the Mac.

M$ will be releasing a 5.1 build. It has a few new features for corporate users. Yay! (sarcastic yay BTW). Their will be no other major features such as voice, webcams etc.

 

[Superdrive]

They should just work with Apple to plug into iChat. I'd much rather have one program handle everything (a la Adium). BUT, if they are going to build any of these programs, let's just hope they don't half ass it.

 

[mcmillan]

M$ will be releasing a 5.1 build. It has a few new features for corporate users. Yay! (sarcastic yay BTW). Their will be no other major features such as voice, webcams etc.

That's what I was going to say. The next release is supposed to have encrypted file sharing... I have waited for this all mi life!!! (sarcasm too ). The Mac Business Unit only cares about workspace, not average customers. That makes so little sense since the Windows version is -IMO- focused on young users.

About a new Yahoo! Messenger for Mac, I don't know, we'll have to wait. My best guess is that it will come in mid to late 2007. The Mac Business Unit are making their binaries, while MSN Messenger for Windows devs are working on Windows Live Messenger (which won't support Yahoo! interpolarity yet). So Windows Live Messenger should be released sometime this year, late this year or early 07 the Yahoo-MSN messenger might be released, then The Mac Business Unit and Yahoo! will take their time to port a crappy, less-features, business-oriented version of their interpolated client.

 

[mileslong]

if adium could just get sound and video along with more consistant file transfer then no one would need any of those.

 

[Bern]

if adium could just get sound and video along with more consistant file transfer then no one would need any of those.

If Adium could do those things then I'd bother to install it.