Microsoft is preparing a version of MSN Messenger with new features that will be available exclusively to paying subscribers of the MSN 8 online service. Joe Wilcox reports on CNET.

One of the major MSN Messenger 5 features available exclusively to MSN 8 subscribers are enhanced parental controls, which can be applied to online service client and e-mail features.

MSN Messenger 5 [free XP-only version] offers a feature called "Browse the Web together" that was not activated in the beta. The client also offers access to the user's history of .Net Alerts, which serve up traffic, stock, auction and other tracking information in IM. Furthermore, the contact search appears in MSN Messenger 5 but not in Windows Messenger.