Microsoft is wasting no time turning the Xbox 360 into a living room PC, announcing late last night that the Xbox 360 is getting a USB keyboard this summer, and instant-messaging functions this spring via a version of Windows Live Messenger that runs on the console.
On May 7, the Xbox 360 spring dashboard update will add “Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360” functionality, connecting friends across Xbox 360 consoles, Windows-based PCs and Windows Mobile-powered devices. The update will let gamers/chatters use Windows Live Messenger to text chat with up to six people on their contact list at one time, while playing games, listening to music or watching movies.
The “contact list” includes people on both an Xbox friends list and a Messenger list. It will also automatically let users see whether people on their Messenger list have an Xbox 360 gamertag.
Since the new function only supports text-based chat, Microsoft will release this summer a QWERTY keyboard that plugs into the Xbox 360’s USB port. No doubt the keyboard will also pave the way for massively multiplayer games and future versions of online RPGs such as Final Fantasy to appear on the Xbox 360 with their full feature set.
