IM+ for Windows Phone improved.

IM+ is an app that groups together several platforms. In one place you can initiate a chat session with Skype, Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, AIM, Facebook, Yandex IM etc. The app supports push notifications and can help save some precious space on your Windows Phone.

Check out the change log:

- Option to change group chat topic
- Option to lock display orientation
- View VK.com timeline from contact’s info
- Quick Voice messages
- Location messages – share your location via IM+
- Favorite contacts – add favorite contacts from different services in one group
- Bug fixes and performance improvements

Source: Windows Phone Store

IM+ gets updated with image preview and more.

Version 2.9 of IM+ has been published to the store today with a slew of new features for the multi-platform IM service. Top of the list is support for image preview in chat window. A feature that is now common in any messaging service. But remember, IM+ is a different beast in that it brings almost all popular IM platforms under one roof. As such, Skype, Yahoo! and Jabber are capable of receiving files directly within IM+. These updates apply to both the paid and free version of IM+.

Here's the full list of added features in version 2.9:

- Image preview in chat window
- Ability to receive files in Skype, Yahoo! and Jabber
- Ability to send voice and video messages
- New set of emoticons
- Arabic localization
- Option to not display "On Mobile" contacts 

- Bug fixes and performance improvements 

IM+ supports the following IM services:

Skype, Facebook, Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, VKontakte, Yandex IM, Mail.ru Agent, Odnoklassniki.ru, Mamba, Fetion, RenRen, Sina Weibo, Mig33, Gadu-Gadu, MeinVZ, Beep and MSN/Windows Live

Download: Free IM+

Download: IM+ Pro ($3.49)

Outlook.com to remove chat history as part of Skype integration.

I received an email today from the Outlook.com team announcing the upcoming removal of Messaging history folder sometime this fall as part of adding Skype to Outlook.com. If you are a heavy user of chat and need to keep a copy of your conversations, head over to Outlook.com and move them to another folder. Note that this applies to any chat services supported by Outlook.com: Facebook, Google Talk and Messenger.  

Follow the steps below to move your conversations:

1. In Outlook.com, right-click Folders, and then click Add a new folder.
2. Enter a name for the folder and press the Enter key.
3. Click Messaging history, and then click the check box at the very top of your message list.
4. Click Select everything.
5. Right-click any message and then click Move.
6. Select the folder you want to move your messages to, and then click Move.