Old Version Information

Since the main version page was getting crowded with old and sometimes not very useful information I have moved that information to this archive page and just keep more recently available versions on the main page.

Links on this page may or may not work -- I have preserved this information as an archive only and have made no attempt to modify it to be accurate.

MSN Messenger 1.0

Version	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0863)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0867)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0869)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0870)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0872)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0873)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0874)
Date Released	July 22.1999	July 24.1999 1200EDT	July 24,1999 1720 EDT	July 26,1999 1100 EDT	July 28,1999 0800 EDT	July 30,1999 0100 EDT	July 30,1999 1800 EDT
Where to get it	No longer available.	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available
Comments	Has great promise to be the tool of choice for initiating NetMeeting calls. I have a review with my impressions.	I am not sure if this version is different as part of the continuing AOL/Microsoft battle but it definitely is a different build	Another salvo in what someone has dubbed the "Battle of the Build".

MSN Messenger 1.0(continued)

Version	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0875 - 0879)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0880)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0881)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0882)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0883)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0884)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0885)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0886)
Date Released	??	August 5,1999 1800 EDT	August 6,1999 2300 EDT	August 9,1999 1900 EDT	August 11,1999 2300 EDT	August 18,1999 0900 EDT	August 18,1999 2330 EDT	August 20,1999 1730 EDT
Where to get it	No longer available.	No longer available.	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available
Comments	Several here but I was out of touch -- but it doesn't really matter except to underline the ridiculousness of the AOL- Microsoft battle					.

MSN Messenger 1.0(continued again)

Version	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0888)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0889)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0890)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0891)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0892)	MSN Messenger Version 1.0 (1.0.0893)
Date Released	August 25, 1999 2200 EDT	August 28, 1999 0900 EDT	September 9,1999 1045 EDT	September 10,1999 1045 EDT	September 18,1999 1700 EDT	September 21,1999,2345 EDT
Where to get it	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	Downloadable free from MSN.
Comments		Another salvo in what someone has dubbed the "Battle of the Build"?. I haven't noticed any problem logging on at AOL so this may be a follow up to the last build that apparently filled a security hole. It seems that MSN Messenger will auto-download new versions (subject to your approval at every login) but only if you somehow use the feature being updated.			I am not sure if this is a response to AOL blocking but it seems but didn't auto download .If it was a fix to allow login to AOL then it was either incorrect or AOL had already retaliated by the time I tried it.	No auto download. I am not sure if this is a logon to AOL fix- it seems that I can only intermittently log on to AOL. I have a review with my impressions- a URL for the protocol specs which Microsoft recently published is now included.

MSN Messenger 2.x

Version	MSN Messenger Version 2.0 (2..0.0083)	MSN Messenger Version 2.0 (2..0.0084)	MSN Messenger Version 2.0 (2..0.0085)	MSN Messenger Version 2.1 (2.1.1047)	MSN Messenger Version 2.2 (2.2.1053)
Date Released	November 16,1998	December 3,1999	December 7,1999	February 22, 2000	April 3, 2000
Where to get it	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	The US version is downloadable free from MSN. If not available now international versions should be available soon at the MSN Messenger website
Comments	It seems like Microsoft have abandoned the battle with AOL - this version has no provision for logging into AOL. This version is called a preview. Most of the changes appear cosmetic - adding a rotating advertising banner ( big surprise) and the ability to customize the appearance of chat window	This seems like it is part of the change in NetMeeting to Microsoft abandoning the ILS as a call initiation strategy	Information on this release.	I am not totally sure what is in this release (multiple profile support is one thing)- I am guessing that the multihome bug in starting NetMeeting is also fixed.	The MSN website mentions that this version supports "Kid Passport" -- further information is on the messenger site.

MSN Messenger 3.x

Version	MSN Messenger 3.0 (3.0.0080)	MSN Messenger 3.0 (3.0.0283)	MSN Messenger 3.0 (3.0.0285)	MSN Messenger 3.0 (3.0.0286)
Date Released	May 29,2000	July 20,2000	July 22,2000	August 10,2000
Where to get it	A new version of MSN Messenger is included in an MSN package preview. It is possible to download the file, extract the Messenger component using WinZip and install it separately.	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available.
Comments	This is only available as a complete download with integrated browser ( a la AOL). The extracted MSN Messenger can be run on NT without apparent problems ( and probably other platforms as well). I can't see any real difference or improvement so it probably is not worth the effort at this point	This version introduces a host of new features including file transfer, and PC to PC and PC to phone audio capabilities. A list of new features can be found at the download site.	I am not sure why a new build was substituted so soon after the initial release.	Reason for new build is not obvious

MSN Messenger 3.x(continued)

Version	MSN Messenger 3.5 (3.5.0077)	MSN Messenger 3.6 (3.6.0024)	MSN Messenger 3.6 (3.6.0025)	MSN Messenger 3.6 (3.6.0026)	MSN Messenger 3.6 (3.6.0028)	MSN Messenger 3.6 (3.6.0039)
Date Released	November 15,2000	January 20,2001	February 2,2000	April 19,2001	July 24,2001	August 8,2001
Where to get it	No longer available.	No longer available.	No longer available.	No longer available.	No longer available.	No longer available
Comments	Other than adding a few cosmetic changes the reason for the new version is not obvious.	Nothing obvious changed	Nothing obvious changed	Nothing obvious changed.	Ability to save and import contact lists added.	Nothing obvious changed

ICQ version 2001a(continued)

Version	2001b Beta v5.17 Build #3642
Date Released	November 13,2001
Where to get it	Available at ICQ site
Comments	Update information.

ICQ version 2001a

Version	ICQ 2001a Alpha build 3558 ver.5.03	ICQ 2001a Alpha build 3619 ver.5.05	ICQ 2001a Beta build 3634 ver.5.15	ICQ 2001a Beta build 3636 ver.5.15	ICQ 2001a Beta build 3637 ver.5.15	ICQ 2001a Beta build 3638 ver.5.15	ICQ 2001a Beta build 3640 ver.5.16
Date Released	July 17,2001	October 3,2001	October 31,2001	November 1,2001	November 2,2001	November 4,2001	November 9,2001
Where to get it	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available
Comments	I am not sure if this will be available universally or is limited like previous alphas.	I am not sure if this will be available universally or is limited like previous alphas. This seems to have an extensive download system that allows picking of components that you want to use.	As ever with ICQ this is called beta but is the equivalent to released version.	As ever with ICQ this is called beta but is the equivalent to released version.	The question is who is going to win the IM maximum number of updates per week race - ICQ or Msn Messenger.	Update information. We have a winner!	Update information.

ICQ version 2000b

Version	ICQ 2000b Alpha build 3223 ver.4.50	ICQ 2000b Alpha build 3256 ver.4.54	ICQ 2000b Beta build 3264 ver.4.55	ICQ 2000b Beta build 3264 ver.4.56	ICQ 2000b Beta build 3278 ver.4.60	ICQ 2000b Beta build 3279 ver.4.63	ICQ 2000b Beta build 3261 ver.4.65
Date Released	June 28,2000	September 1,2000	September 21,2000	September 27,2000	October 26,2000	February 8,2001	April 10,2001
Where to get it	Looks like I jumped the gun -- this version is now restricted. Was available from the ICQ site - if you are interested keep looking there for the next version which will likely have a short window of opportunity for download.	Alpha version probably only downloadable for a short time.	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available	No longer available
Comments	In typical Mirablils naming -- this new "alpha" is what most other software suppliers would call a 'beta'. A general list of 2000b changes can be found on the Mirabilis website . The most interesting seems to be integration of PC to PC and PC to phone audio capability.		This is the new released (beta in ICQ speak) ICQ. A list of new features is on the ICQ site.	I have no idea how they can change the version without the build number changing but such are the mysteries of life.

ICQ version 99b

Version	ICQ 99b Alpha v 3.16	ICQ 99b Beta v 3.17 (Build 2565)	ICQ 99b Beta v 3.18 (Build 2568)	ICQ 99b Beta v 3.19 (Build 2569)	ICQ 99b Beta v 3.19 (Build 2569) Revision A
Date Released	August 10,1999	August 16,1999	August 30,1999	August 31,1999	February 4,2000
Where to get it	No longer available	No longer available.	No longer available	No longer available	From ICQ site
Comments	This is apparently a beta version (called alpha by Mirabilis since releases are called betas- are we confused yet?)	This is what Mirabilis calls beta -- but what the have called releases in the past -- so I think this is the release version. Rumours are that this version actually fixes the chat resource leak -- my use isn't extensive enough to confirm that.	As ever there is not very much information on what has actually changed. It seems though that the practice of modifying the version number and not changing the build number is no longer in place so some of the version number confusion may disappear	As ever there is not very much information on what has actually changed.	More in the long list of confusion version number s -- the only information that I can find is that this release is for a bug fix.

Old ICQ version information (98a)

Version	ICQ V98a dll126 (for Windows95)	ICQ V98a dll130 (for Windows95)
Date Released	May 18, 1998	June 21,1998
Where to get it	step by step instructions	This is the CNet download,com site that has it.
Comments	Generally the latest ICQ is available from download at Tucows sites.	I am not sure of changes -- will report if I find out information

ICQ version 99a

Version	ICQ V99a V2.22(build 1800)	ICQ V99a V2.24(build 1800)
Date Released	June 21,1999	August 1,1999
Where to get it	No longer available	No longer available at Mirabilis
Comments		The ICQ update page provides no information -- I don't know what has changed

Old ICQ version information (99a)

Version	ICQ V99a (build 1547, build 1615,build 1620)	ICQ V99a (build 1690)	ICQ V99a V2.13 (build 1700)	ICQ V99a V2.15 (build 1701)
Date Released	??November 7-20,1998	November 15,1998	February 22,1999	April 14.1999
Where to get it	Well there is a version of V99a available from Mirabilis to beta testers but not announced by Mirabilis yet. A number of "rogue" sites seem to have a version. The semi-official download sites seem to have withdrawn their downloads.	Available from the ICQ site so I guess it is official. This is now build 1700 so I guess 1690 is no longer available	Now officially released and available Cnet	Mirabilis offers a choice of download sites -- I tried a download from a Tucows site and ended up with a version that called it self V2.14 Build 1701? I was able to download from Cnet's download.com what at least seems like the correct version.
Comments	I would be very careful -- what with all the Trojan Horse programs around and download from ZDnet or any other Mirabilis source not from "joe's download site". This version seems not to the preconfigured Telephony/Chat/Games making it harder to use for NetMeeting. I would not recommend this version for use with NetMeeting.	It seems that this version though giving the appearance of supporting external telephony, games, chat still does not. I would not recommend this version for use with NetMeeting.	Seems like the level of support for external programs is at least up to the level of V98a. The registry bug still seems not fixed. I think this one is really worth downloading. It seems that there are now 3 or 4 separate version numbers attached the ICQ (all of which seem to vary independently). Make sure you get the latest version ( build 1700 is not designation enough the v2.13 is required as well) This version has been officially designated beta -- which for Mirabilis means final release Registry fix here works with this version.	I am not sure what is fixed -- I hope the disastrous chat resource leak is gone though.

ICQ version information (99a) (continued)

Version	ICQ V99a V2.20 (build 1800)	ICQ V99a V2.21 (build 1800)
Date Released	May 3,1999	May18,1999
Where to get it	Cnet's download sites seem like the most reliable. Further information indicates that not even all the Cnet sites have the latest version so I am supplying the exact URL I used to download the program.	This version is available from Tucows and maybe others. I am supplying the exact URL I used to download the program.
Comments	It appears I was overexhuberent in declaring the NM interaction problem gone with this version -- I am still trying to figure out why I thought that.	It seems that this is definitely a different version and a different size file. I have no idea of what the differences are.

ICQ version 2000a

Version	ICQ 2000a Alpha - build 3086 ver. 4.22	ICQ 2000a Alpha - build 3120 ver. 4.25	ICQ 2000a Beta build 3140 ver.4.29	ICQ 2000a Beta build 3141 ver.4.30	ICQ 2000a Beta build 3143 ver.4.31
Date Released	February 10,2000	March 29,2000	April 24,2000	May 11,2000	May 31,2000
Where to get it	From ICQ site -- but I am not sure if this version will be usable -- the pointers from the website appear to have been modified so it is no longer pointed to	I don't know if access to this version will be withdrawn (as happened with past alpha versions) -- but it has been accessible for a day or so. No longer available	No longer available.	No longer available.	Still available from the ICQ ftp site
Comments	This is the first public alpha of this so I don't know how stable it is.	I would be careful with this version - some features may not work	This is the released version (Mirabilis has never had anything other than betas as final versions)	Presumably bug fixes but no list of changes that I could find.	Presumably bug fixes but no list of changes that I could find. A general list of 2000a changes can be found on the Mirabilis website

Old NetMeeting Version information (2.1)

Version	V2.1(4.3.2203)	V2.1 (4.3.2206)	V2.1 (4.3.2207)
Date Released	???	June 2,1998	February 5,1999
Where to get it	Available as part of IE4.0 Service Pack 1 or download at Microsoft	Available in the resource kit	Windows Update available to Windows 98 users only
Comments	No one seems to know whether the NetMeeting that can be downloaded directly and the Service Pack version have the speed dial security fix or not. All are labeled 2203( the original of which did not have the speed dial fix) For general information on the speed dial security problem a somewhat Zen article was written by some wag.	NetMeeting can also be downloaded directly. The downloadable version is still 2203( but it may have speeddial security fix). Microsoft support articles also claim that there is a 2205 but I have never seen or heard of it Version 2206 is claimed to have all fixes including speed dial security fix	Users are reporting that if you have version V2.1 4.3.2203 or 4.3.2206 the windows update page indicates a new NetMeeting and will update to this version. I have updated a 2203 system -- it indicates that 2207 fixes a few minor (unspecified bugs). How other users (NT, 95 etc) get this versions is unknown. The NetMeeting page still downloads 2203.

Old NetMeeting Version information (2.11)

Version	V2.11(4.3.2408)	V2.11(4.3.2415)	V2.11 (4.3.2505)	V2.11(4.3.2506)	V2.11beta (4.3.2519)	V2.11 (4.3.2519)
Date Released	June 11,1998	???	October 8,1998	October 30,1998	January 22,1999	March 18.1999
Where to get it	No longer available.	Available as part of Microsoft Windows NT Version 5.0 Beta 2 to beta tester only	Available as part of Internet Explorer 5.0 Beta to beta testers only.	No longer available.	Available as part of Internet Explorer 5.0 Beta to beta testers only	Still available here
Comments	As far as I can tell there are no outside discernible changes. Anything that changed is under the covers -- that could be a good sign or a bad sign.	No obvious changes	No obvious changes	No obvious changes except annoying beta expired message was removed. Guess what as of December 1,1998 the annoying message is back.		No obvious changes.

Old NetMeeting Version information (3.0)

Version	V3.0	V3.0 ( beta 4.4.3358)	V3.01 (beta 4.4.3369)	V3.01 (beta 4.4.3377)	V3.0 (4.4.3345)
Date Released	March 9,1999	April 15,1999	May 12,1999	May 20,1999	May 27,1999
Where to get it	Not generally available - private beta	No longer available,	No longer available.		Part of OEM Win98 SE
Comments	Microsoft has announced that likely target dates for public beta is April with full release in the summer.	Well this is what we have all been waiting for. I have a review of the product on this website. Robert Scoble of Windows NetMeeting Zone also has reviews and information. Now available the 3.0 SDK as well	New SDK and Resource kit as well. At first glance the only visible thing is that some UI settings are "sticky"	As of this writing the web page didn't indicate a new version but probably will soon. Expect a new resource kit and SDK as well (might even be there now) This version adds back the start and sit in system tray and the audio/video indicators in the ILS listings.	Run from this one it is older then the first public beta --download the latest beta ASAP.