Microsoft connects IM to Xbox 360

Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced to provide instant messaging (IM) on its Xbox 360 game console to enable players to chat with others running Windows Live Messenger on their PCs and mobile phones. As of now, Xbox owners can chat with other Xbox users through the Xbox Live network.

The IM integration update, due for release on May 7, will be offered for free to Xbox users. With this update to Xbox 360, people can connect and chat directly from their television using Windows Live Messenger, a network of more than 20 billion relationships and more than 260 million active accounts.

"Bringing the largest IM community in the world, Windows Live Messenger, to Xbox 360 makes sense, as Xbox Live has really become the largest social network on television," said the Xbox Live product unit manager, Jerry Johnson, in a statement.

In order to support Live Messenger on the Xbox 360, Microsoft will also introduce a QWERTY-style keyboard add-on for the console's controller. The thumb-driven keyboard plugs into the controller's headphone and will reportedly come with its own headset. Neither a price nor a release date has been set, although Microsoft said the latter would be available this summer.

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