“Messenger Service Along With Avatars”

MSN (www.msn.co.kr), the Internet portal site of Microsoft plans to start its avatar service for the instant messenger from the 20th. Among the worldwide MSN services, it is first started in Korea.

The service will offer an avatar service which can be used in instant messengers, like other avatar services on the webs.

When one communicates through the MSN messenger program, he or she can make avatar, along with their nickname on the messenger. MSN adopted “multi-avatars” so one can change his or her avatar according to the conversation partners. MSN also adopted an option to change the facial expressions of avatar in the middle of the conversation.

Lee Guhwan, the director of MSN Korea said, “We tried to offer a differential service from other web-based avatar services, offering various avatars according to the conversation partners. The fact that this is first serviced in Korea has a symbolic meaning that MSN Korea is leading the worldwide MSN entertainment service trend.”

Yong Park parky@donga.com