Microsoft Auctions Beta Test Gig

Still wondering what to get that Microsoft enthusiast for the holidays? Microsoft's Windows Live team has a suggestion: An invitation to a limited beta of Microsoft's next-generation instant-messaging client, Windows Live Messenger.

Bidding on Beta

Microsoft is auctioning off invitations to the private beta release of the forthcoming client on eBay's auction site, according to a posting on the Windows Live team's blog.

"Xbox 360 is not the only thing in short supply this holiday season," according to a posting on the Windows Live blog. "So like Xbox, Windows Live Messenger beta invites are appearing on eBay."

The auctions can be found on eBay now.

While many of the other Windows Live services and Web-based applications, such as Windows Live Local and Windows Live Mail, are available in public betas, Windows Live Messenger is by invitation only.

Next-Gen Messenger Preview

Windows Live Messenger, part of Microsoft's Live Software plan to offer a set of Web-based services and applications, will eventually replace the current Microsoft IM client, MSN Messenger. The next version of MSN Messenger will be rebranded Windows Live Messenger 8.0. Windows Live Mail also is expected to take the place of MSN Hotmail in the future.

The eBay auction sites for the beta invitations provide a screen shot of the upcoming IM client, which promises to allow users to more quickly and easily share files such as photos and music, as well as make PC-to-PC voice calls with other Windows Live Messenger users, according to Microsoft. The client also will have a new user interface and allow users to message buddies even when they are offline.

By Wednesday morning, several such invitations were listed on eBay, with the bids ranging from $1 to $20. The Windows Live team has started a pool to guess what the highest selling price will be for one of the invitations, according to the team's blog.