Yahoo Messenger

Yahoo! Messenger
Developer(s)Yahoo!
Initial release
  • March 9, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-03-09)[1] (as Yahoo! Pager)
  • June 21, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-06-21) (as Yahoo! Messenger)[2]
Final release
  • Windows: 11.5.0.228 / March 13, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-03-13)
  • Mac: 3.0.2 / July 14, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-07-14)
  • Windows Phone 7: 1.0.6 / September 2013; 11 years ago (2013-09)
  • SunOS 5.7: 0.99.17–1 / September 2003; 21 years ago (2003-09)
  • Solaris 8: 1.0.4 / September 2003; 21 years ago (2003-09)
  • FreeBSD 4/5: 1.0.4 / September 2003; 21 years ago (2003-09)
  • Android: 2.9.2 / July 6, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-07-06)
  • iOS: 1.0.7/ February 29, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-02-29)
Operating systemAndroid, iOS. Windows, Windows Mobile, macOS, BlackBerry OS, FreeBSD, Solaris, SunOS
TypeInstant messaging client and Internet phone
LicenseProprietary adware

Yahoo! Messenger (sometimes abbreviated Y!M) was an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!. Yahoo! Messenger was provided free of charge and could be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo ID" which also allowed access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo! Mail. The service also offered VoIP, file transfers, webcam hosting, a text messaging service, and chat rooms in various categories.

Yahoo! Messenger dates back to Yahoo! Chat, which was a public chat room service. The actual client, originally called Yahoo! Pager, launched on March 9, 1998[1] and renamed to Yahoo! Messenger in 1999. The chat room service shut down in 2012.[3][4]

In addition to instant messaging features similar to those offered by ICQ, it also offered (on Microsoft Windows) features such as: IMVironments (customizing the look of Instant Message windows, some of which include authorized themes of various cartoons such as Garfield or Dilbert), address-book integration and Custom Status Messages.[5] It was also the first major IM client to feature BUZZing and music-status.

A new Yahoo! Messenger was released in 2015, replacing the older one. Yahoo! Messenger was shut down entirely on July 17, 2018, replaced by a new service titled Yahoo! Together, only to be shut down as well in 2019.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b "Stay In Touch With Yahoo Pager". Archived from the original on December 20, 2010.
  2. ^ "Company Timeline". Press Room. Investor Relations. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on July 13, 2008.
  3. ^ "Change is in the Air: Updates to Yahoo Messenger Features". Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  4. ^ "Yahoo Messenger public chat rooms discontinuing on Dec. 14th". Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "Features – Yahoo Messenger". Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008.
  6. ^ "Yahoo Messenger will be discontinued | Account Help – SLN28776". help.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "Yahoo Messenger will shut down on July 17th". Verizon Media. June 8, 2018. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.