The move forms the world's largest IM network, with around 350 million user accounts and means people using Yahoo's Messenger and Windows Live Messenger will be able to exchange instant messages across the free services, see their friends' online presence, share a selection of emoticons and add new contacts from either service.

Yahoo said its research shows that almost a third of IM users were keen to communicate with friends and family on other IM networks, and if they could they would get in touch more frequently.

George Hadjigeorgiou, general manager, Yahoo Communications Products Europe, said: “Interoperability between IM services has consistently topped our users' wish lists. The bridge between our messenger community and Windows Live Messenger will bring people around the world closer together – signalling a whole new era for staying connected.”

www.yahoo.co.uk/messenger
http://www.msn.co.uk/livemessenger

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