The main changes that I noticed were that the graphics appeared smaller. However, the thing that surprised me when installing the latest version was that I was asked to quit Query Analyser. Why?

Someone also running Messenger v8.0 shared a folder with me and Messenger prompted me if I wanted to use a virus scanner. It uses the virus scanner reviewed a few weeks ago.

http://www.noelwatson.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,212b4ad3-ae6b-4d99-8618-b410bd41a60e.aspx

http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm

You can configure to use other virus scanners

I'm assuming that the virus scanner will be released at the same time (if not before) Messenger 8.0

http://www4.imagine-msn.com/minisites/messenger/default.aspx?locale=en-us

Never had need to use this before, but after I couldn't get Messenger working on a client site I discovered this

http://webmessenger.msn.com/

The other day a friend tried to send a voice message to me via Messenger - this was the first I  knew that 7.5 was out

http://messenger.msn.co.uk/xp/downloadDefault.aspx

I assume this is an attempt to compete with Google talk

http://www.google.com/talk/

http://www.jabber.org/