Xbox 360 gets Instant Messaging, QWERTY keyboard

XBox 360 Features

By Casey Lynch Apr 9, 2007, 13:38 GMT

Microsoft announced today that Xbox 360 owners will be able to connect with more than 260 million Windows Live Messenger users on Xbox 360, Windows-based PCs and Windows Mobile-powered devices, starting the week of May 7. IM’s, a QWERTY keyboard and fancier Achievements – it's the Spring update!

IM’s, a QWERTY keyboard and fancier Achievements – it's the Spring update!The big news is the simultaneous announcement of a QWERTY keyboard controller, a QWERTY text-input device that will launch this summer and connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.

The thumb keyboard (which is backlit) plugs into the jack on the bottom of the controller where you normally plug in your headset. Speaking of which, it comes bundled with its own headset, since it doesn't pass the signal through, and cannot work with current peripherals. No word on pricing yet, though. Users on Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 can also text chat using the virtual keyboard currently accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console.A nice feature will be the unification of current friends list on both Windows Live Messenger and Xbox LIVE so users will see at a glance if their existing friends on Windows Live Messenger have Gamertags.“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 Jerry Johnson, product unit manager of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft. “For our growing community of 6 million on Xbox LIVE, using Xbox 360 is a very social, connected experience. They are using Xbox 360 to play games, music and movies while simultaneously communicating with one another through video, voice and text chat. With this announcement we are simultaneously expanding the access of Xbox LIVE users to existing friends and family while introducing Windows Live Messenger users to the benefits of Xbox 360.”Beyond Windows Live Messenger, the Spring Update for Xbox 360 includes a bevy of newness, including the following:• A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the Gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list. • Enhanced family settings features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.• A new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets Xbox LIVE members access the content they seek — whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States) — from one place on Xbox LIVE.• Updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing. Expanded Tell a Friend capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.• A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.• New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.• Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.The Spring Update is free beginning the week of May 7 and is easily accessible to every Xbox 360 owner through Xbox LIVE or on Xbox.com.