Transfer MSN contacts?

MarcLister · 15 Dec 2006 at 16:34

I have an MSN account using my Hotmail email address but I'd like to use my Gmail account for MSN. Then I could add Gmail to Thunderbird and in a stroke access my private, Uni and MSN emails through Thunderbird. I don't like having to load up IE to see my Hotmail emails.

So what I want to do is to move my contacts from my Hotmail account to my Gmail account without speaking to each contact individually and letting them know my new MSN account. Is there anyway to do this? If there is, do my contacts need to do anything to update my contact details from Hotmail to Gmail?

EirePlane · 15 Dec 2006 at 16:39

on the main window (not in a conversation) go to Contacts>Save Instant Messaging contacts

when you log in to msn using your GMail account. simply go to Contacts>Import Instant Messaging Contacts

MarcLister · 15 Dec 2006 at 16:41

And that will automatically update my contacts contact data on me?

EirePlane · 15 Dec 2006 at 16:43

That will import all the contacts from your old MSN account into your new one
it will however send them all a request to add them to your contact list so it might be worth putting it into your display name on your old address for a while, something like "My New Addy Is [email protected]"

Edit: you might want to take a look at Windows Live Mail Desktop. it's an email program which allows you to view your hotmail, gmail and other emails using one program. still in beta at the moment but ive been using it a little while and im very happy with it.

MarcLister · 15 Dec 2006 at 16:47

Thanks for that. I've used MSN for a few years but I've never had to transfer an account over so I was stumped on this. Kudos to the MSN guys and gals for including this feature in MSN. I thought I'd have to download some program to do this for me.

EirePlane said:
you might want to take a look at Windows Live Mail Desktop. it's an email program which allows you to view your hotmail, gmail and other emails using one program. still in beta at the moment but ive been using it a little while and im very happy with it.

Nah I'm happy with Thunderbird thanks. I want to be able to access my private, Uni and MSN emails through Thunderbird so trying out WLM Desktop is out of the question for me.

Thanks for the suggestion anyhow. I might check it out sometime and see what it is like but at the moment I'm not looking to change email clients.