BOTS on MSN

Question

There have been a number of questions about BOTS in the forum in various theads so I thought I would provide this post with a broader update on the topic.

MSN has recently started licensing BOTS on the network.  The huge benefit of a licensed BOT is that it will have contact limitations removed (the reverse list), so that millions of people could connect to the same ID.  Our goal is to enable a broad network of these IM applications integrated with other MSN services (Activity API, Search, etc.).

To make sure our customers have the best experience with these applications and provide tools to the broadest number of companies seeking to build BOTS, we have started licensing ISV’s that build platforms with access to our protocol and having a 3^rd party certify their platforms.  The following is the current list of ISV’s with licensed platforms for building BOTS on MSN: www.akonix.com, www.conversagent.com, www.infiniteagent.com and www.wisebuddy.com.  This list will continue to grow over time and we'll provide on-going updates to the community as we add new partners.

In order to run a BOT licensed for the MSN network it needs to be built using one of the licensed ISVs listed above and adhere to the MSN Terms of Use agreement.  MSN does not charge an access fee for licensing a BOT.   Since this is the MSN network and we are not charging for BOT access, obvious things that compete with MSN’s business are not allowed; such as integration with 3^rd party search or 3rd party advertising.  We are happy to point you to information about using the MSN Search API or put you in contact with our MSN Search colleagues.

If you have questions please post them to the forum.

Todd

Answer 1

Todd,

What does it take to become a licensed partner? What are the requirements and above all the costs?

Thanks,
coolio

Answer 2

... Re-read Todd's post.

Answer 3

i did not ask how to build a bot, i asked what it takes to create a licensed platform for those bots. as in; what do i need to do to become the next conversagent?

coolio

Answer 4

coolio wrote:

i did not ask how to build a bot, i asked what it takes to create a licensed platform for those bots. as in; what do i need to do to become the next conversagent?

This isn't official or anything, but as with most Microsoft partners, you'd have to prove you have a working technology that works properly and as advertised.  There's probably some other guidelines you have to meet in this particular case, and most likely a fee of some kind.

Answer 5

Thanks Jonathan,

To elaborate on your answer, if I want to build a library or application that is capable of connecting to the MSN network, I do need access to it's protocol specifications. How do I get that information? Next to that, what are the guidelines and what about the license agreement?

There's a lot more I want to know about this. Can someone out there provide me with contact details of the person that is able to give me some actual answers on this topic?

Thanks in advance,
coolio

Answer 6

"The huge benefit of a licensed BOT is that it will have contact limitations removed (the reverse list), so that millions of people could connect to the same ID.  Our goal is to enable a broad network of these IM applications integrated with other MSN services (Activity API, Search, etc.)."

What does it take to become a liscensed bot?  Do you have to use a certified 3rd party platform that you listed to build it upon (and also, do you have to pay for them and how does their developing method work), or are we able to access the protocol directly?  Also, how do we go about having the limitations of the reverse list removed.

Thanks!
- psyko

Answer 7

Hmm. I glanced over the products of the mentioned companies, but none of them seem to offer a direct way of accesses the MSN network. They all require us to build on top of a platform, a platform they designed.

How about those who want to utalize the protocol directly without interference of a platform whatsoever? Are they (we) left in the cold?

Answer 8

To become a licensed BOT you please build on top of any of our certified ISV's and sign a licensing agreement (no fees) with MSN.  MSN then provisions your BOT, so that the reverse list of 1,000 users is removed. 

Answer 9

Todd

Thanks for the Introduction.

Here at Akonix we are very keen to understand BOT developer needs as we are building our next generation deployment platform to leverage a strong communty of developers.  For those of you interested in getting access to technical documentation, SDK and pre-built frameworks please contact myself to assist.

I am additionally keen to get more exposure to what is being developed for the MSN network so Akonix can potentially exploit your work through our current channels to over 700 customers.

From my side as the person responsible globally for L7 Builder I have a seen a dramatic growth both in enterprise demand for intelligent presence based appliactions as well as outward facing alerting and content deliver BOT's.

Right now we have a number of projects opening up that needspecialist resourcing at athe application level.

Keep checking our website as we shall soon start to publish our Applications along side our partner BOT's and solutions.

Jon

Answer 10

This thread handles two questions; how to build a BOT on top of certified platforms and how to become a certified ISV for the MSN network. The first topic seems clear to me. The latter is still unanswered and I really like to know the requirements and conditions in becoming a certified ISV. Can someone supply me with some actual answers?

Thanks,
coolio

Answer 11

Answer 12

To answer your question, companies that are interested in becoming a certified ISV for building BOTS or more complex Messenger applications (BOTS + Activity applications) can either contact myself (toddb) or bizdesk at microsoft.com.

Since our resources are limited, companies we select to license are based on a number of factors including but not limited to geographic location, experience, resources, existing customer base, ability to meet the terms of our ISV licensing agreement, and the number of companies that could be expected to work with the licensed platform tools.

I hope that helps, please follow up with any questions.

Todd

 

Answer 13

Just a quick update, we've added the following two BOT ISV's:

1. Incesoft (China) http://www.incesoft.com
2. Oberon Medialab (Netherlands) http://www.oberon.nl/en

Todd

Answer 14

none of those sites said anything usefull.   Sure they said that we can build off their code base,  but I never found a single link to download their codebase.   If microsoft want to allow us to use these websites,  get them to give it to us.  Until this works,  most people are going to just keep using several mirrors.

Answer 15

Very interesting information is posted here.

And I have one related question for Todd:

What's about existing 3rd party instant messenger clients? It's been always a confusing moment for me. I do not see anywhere a clear answer about "legal" aspect of it. For example Trillian and Gaim are very popular 3rd party IM clients that connect to MSN Messenger network as well. But it does not look clear if these products do that legally...

The similar situation with web messenger clients (for example www.meebo.com or www.e-messenger.net). It seems to me these clients are not build on top of some ISV platform and there is no information they are officially registered with Microsoft...

So, what's the story about it? What is the position of Microsoft for 3rd party clients?

Bezel

Answer 16

Please see the new thread I posted on this topic.

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=189940&SiteID=1&mode=1 

Answer 17

I want to make sure I understand exactly what you're looking for.  Download points for our ISV's SDK's or sample code to Messenger Robots (BOTS)?

What exactly do you need to go crazy with Messenger Robots (BOTS) combined with the Activity API, and what are examples of what you want to build?

Todd Biggs, MSN
http://activity.msn.com

Answer 18

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Answer 19

  There is an MSN dedicated provisioning and hosting site where you can get a free download of the Akonix SDK, have them provisioned on to the MSN network, and hosted without charge at the IMProv Center.

They also have some A.I. tools as well for NLP Chat bot constructs. 

Answer 20

Could you explain in more details the benefits of becoming a licensed bot partner?

Answer 21

I have registered and logged-in to Akonix website but nowhere I see SDK for the BOT development available for download.

Could somebody indicate to me where I can download SDK for the BOT development with Visual Studio 2005 in C# language? I would like to develop a messenger robot and have it registered with MSN (Microsoft) in order not to have 1000 users limit, but I cannot find download of the SDK!!!! Maybe Microsoft should make this SDK download available itself if Microsoft partners fail to deliver it?

Answer 22

Kamahl wrote:

none of those sites said anything usefull.   Sure they said that we can build off their code base,  but I never found a single link to download their codebase.   If microsoft want to allow us to use these websites,  get them to give it to us.  Until this works,  most people are going to just keep using several mirrors.

exactly the point! I am a developer and I want to download SDK and with C# develop the bot(s). I cannot do it because download links are missing. Anybody at Akonix care to answer?

Answer 23

Try the incesoft one, I think you will love it.

Answer 24

Can bots send SMS messages?

Answer 25

Todd Biggs - Windows Live wrote:

There have been a number of questions about BOTS in the forum in various theads so I thought I would provide this post with a broader update on the topic. MSN has recently started licensing BOTS on the network.  The huge benefit of a licensed BOT is that it will have contact limitations removed (the reverse list), so that millions of people could connect to the same ID.  Our goal is to enable a broad network of these IM applications integrated with other MSN services (Activity API, Search, etc.). To make sure our customers have the best experience with these applications and provide tools to the broadest number of companies seeking to build BOTS, we have started licensing ISV’s that build platforms with access to our protocol and having a 3rd party certify their platforms.  The following is the current list of ISV’s with licensed platforms for building BOTS on MSN: www.akonix.com, www.conversagent.com, www.infiniteagent.com and www.wisebuddy.com.  This list will continue to grow over time and we'll provide on-going updates to the community as we add new partners. In order to run a BOT licensed for the MSN network it needs to be built using one of the licensed ISVs listed above and adhere to the MSN Terms of Use agreement.  MSN does not charge an access fee for licensing a BOT.   Since this is the MSN network and we are not charging for BOT access, obvious things that compete with MSN’s business are not allowed; such as integration with 3rd party search or 3rd party advertising.  We are happy to point you to information about using the MSN Search API or put you in contact with our MSN Search colleagues. If you have questions please post them to the forum. Todd

 

Thanks. this is very interesting. but do you have any certified msn messenger bot like "Spleak" or "Smarterchild"? I'm looking for MSN messenger bots

Answer 26

Hi sarapug12,

 

Did you take a look at the Windows Live Gallery? Go to http://gallery.live.com, and select "Messenger" in the left-hand panel. BOTs are now called Windows Live Agents, so click on the tab called "Agents" on the new page. There should a pretty long list of agents written by others.

 

Hope this helps!

Answer 27

Also make sure you keep an eye on this brand new forum about Agents, I guess there will be more activity there going on later this year.

Answer 28

I advice you try dotMSN. It is open source.

 

Jacek Edward R. wrote:

I have registered and logged-in to Akonix website but nowhere I see SDK for the BOT development available for download. Could somebody indicate to me where I can download SDK for the BOT development with Visual Studio 2005 in C# language? I would like to develop a messenger robot and have it registered with MSN (Microsoft) in order not to have 1000 users limit, but I cannot find download of the SDK!!!! Maybe Microsoft should make this SDK download available itself if Microsoft partners fail to deliver it?

Answer 29

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Answer 31

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