Vista - Share Windows Live Messenger Contacts wtih Windows Contacts

Hello,

I'm looking to sync my Windows Live Messenger contacts with Windows Contacts
in Windows 7 so that I can eventually sync the contacts with my iPhone. I've
read that it's possible to do this by ensuring that the "Encrypt contact list
data so that it is not accessible outside Windows Live Messenger" option
under the security tab of Windows Live Messenger is not checked. This option
is not available under my version of WLM (Build 14.0.8064.206).

This definately used to be an option at some point as I've seen many screen
shots showing it. Does anyone know if there is a way to get this to work so
that I can sync my Windows Live Contacts with the Windows Contacts in Windows
7?

Thanks a bunch.

Greetings Val,

Sadly this feature is gone.

One quick and easy way to do this is to head over to http://people.live.com, sign in with
your Messenger Live ID, then once logged in, click the Manage button, and then Export.

After proceeding through the captcha, it will send you a CSV with your contacts. You can
then head over to your Contacts folder in Windows, choose the Import button, then choose CSV,
and then choose the file you downloaded. It should get all the mapping without any
adjustment and you can just click Finish. Note that you may get some entries which claim
to be repeated; these are generally entries where a first name/last name haven't been
specified.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--

"Val" <Val@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:734B7F5E-A97B-4CF0-AE0A-12EF9E5E2C50@xxxxxx

Man!!!!! :-(

Are you aware of any plans in the future to provide an automated
synchronization method? Luckily I don't add/edit contacts every day, however
this seems really tedious and definately prone to errors. Now I have to
figure out if I updated a contact from Windows Live Mail, from Windows
Contacts, from my iPhone. In this day and age of cloud computing and
connected devices, you would think that this would be a no-brainer!!!!

Do you know the reasons why the feature was pulled? I'm just curious.

Thanks for your reply.

-- Val


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

Seriously, is Microsoft going to address this? This is a huge blunder in the
current architecture. When I bought this new computer with Windows 7 on it, I
had no idea that MS would manage to screw up the interface to this very
popular device. The solution proposed is not a convenient daily exercise when
new contacts have been entered or modified in the phone, and different ones
on the PC. When is an acceptable solution going to be brought forward.

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

Greetings,

To the best of knowledge, no. But I really don't know.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Hershey Kisses" <Hershey Kisses@newsgroup> wrote in message
news:CA9FC321-2097-4555-A226-9F48A95D5065@newsgroup