Microsoft Corp. 's MSN Messenger, which is run in China through a joint venture, has 4% of instant messaging users, compared to 77% for the QQ service from China's Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Microsoft planned to announce today that it will make its Windows Live Messenger service available on its Xbox 360 game consoles, bringing instant messaging from the computer to the television.

Microsoft executives said they hoped to offer voice chat between Xbox and Live Messenger users later this year.