Nico Messe

Microsoft teamed up with NicoNico to produce a version of Windows Messenger that plays Nico Nico videos. In December, they made an online CM featuring Hatsune Miku walking around the Microsoft offices in Akasaka that I used to work at.
Microsoft recently announced that the CM will be broadcasted on Kanagawa TV this month.
Apparently its a first that a corporate company is using Miku for CM purposes and the otakublog sphere seems to be most interested in the news via J-Cast.
The photos above and below were taken during my days at Microsoft as a Product Manager for the Windows Live Services. It was back then when we first started to reach out to the otaku market starting with a mascot character for Windows Live Spaces. We got an advertising agency to come in with proposals of a design which was done by Azami Yuko sensei -as soon as I saw the sketches I knew that I found the illustrator who would create Mirai-chan for me.
As for messenger, I use Adium. Before I joined Microsoft I used Miranda - then after joining them I always used the Microsoft Messenger. Me still owe you an article on corporate life in Amazon and Microsoft soon but you can read a little bit of what I got up to there in my profile.

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University Student
Wow, that video was really awesome! I use AIM for messenger and sometimes Windows Live Messenger.
Student
i used to use Windows Live Messenger, it was good to talk to friend with webcam. but now i use steam, u cant use a webcam but u can play games and chat with friends.
but i recently bought a mac and i cant use steam unless i use a parallel program :( so now i'm using Microsoft Messenger on the mac
Student
How can you compare Steam with WLM ?
I mean steam is cool if you only have contact gamer, and even if it's the case it's annoying to be spammed while you are playing, and there is nothing else than chat *_*
三年せいとオタク
Love the video as for messengers I use Yahoo Instant Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.
Student artist
http://www.requestview.wordpress.com
Lol Danny I love how you go to work with your storm trooper costume. I want to do this when I go to school but I do not have enough money to buy it, and I really want to buy a 1942 GWP Jeep. So perplexing
College Student
Cool. Thats Brilliant! ^_^
Student
http://web.mit.edu/anime/www/index.shtml
OMG that would be awesome! Would it be available to everyone?
Haven't been on Messenger in a while but it'll definitely bring me back on.
Game Designer
http://www.myspace.com/moose_house
What does Messe mean?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Short for "Messenger"
Young Grasshopper
http://miragestrike.blogspot.com
Haha cool video! Makes me proud of switching to Live.
Student
http://yellowguy89.blogspot.com/
mmm miku is lovely as always.
Now no Otaku can argue against Windows anymore.
Student!
http://zh3us.wordpress.com/
D: lol
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
http://funkyblueame.tumblr.com/
I prefer Adium as well. Many of the people I was talking to used Microsoft Messenger which I can not encrypt with Adium. Right now it doesn't make a difference, I'm in a no IM mode. So ronery. ^o^
Programmer
http://natso.darknovagames.com
That video was really impressive! No interest in getting a new messenger though, I use Yahoo IM, and I've got AIM to use (rarely). I've also got MSN, but most of the time when I run it, it's by accident...
Student/Music Producer/Web Designer
http://www.myspace.com/lionbiscuits
Careful, Danny- it sounds like Microsoft is trying to win you back. ^^;
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
Oh wicked!! Im a serial-msgner so this is funky. Doubt we'll get it soon, it'll be youtube for us anyhow.
Filmmaker
http://josewritingthelife.blogspot.com/
Nice... . ummm I didn't know, but Microsoft is trying to woo you over... Your Macs may be feeling left out...
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
haha oh wow
did anyone else see her pantsu?
i'm still using 8.5 myself and before that i used 8.1, 7.X, 5.X
before that was ICQ which was YEARS ago - remember how it used to go "UH OH!"?
Delivery Driver | Semi-student
http://www.soulfringe.com/
yes, yes i did see pantsu.
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Yeah, I was about to comment on that.. what was it?
Black pantsu with a yellow chick?
Anyways, nice video...
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
I think it was with a yellow bear head..
???Confused???
The only messenger I've ever used is AIM...but this is kinda peaking my interest...
College Freshmen
That was a pretty cool video. Working in a storm trooper armor must be hard though.
Moe Hunter
http://moehunter.wordpress.com/
The video was awesome.
Student
http://christianchoi.wordpress.com/
so thats what that button in the corner of the nico videos was for. seems like a good idea to appeal to the otaku
http://www.marvinryan.com
what the? is that a MSN smiley on Miku's pantsu?
流浪人
Sure looked like it... ^_^
大学生
http://justaskeikaku.net23.net
Can't believe they included a fanservice shot XD
Injured
That was a really good video. Miku Rin and Len looked into it which is strange as they were 'captured' by Microsoft Employs at last. I didn't get what the song was but to me, usually going up into the the air then space means they died?
Your local Otaku Cashier.
I'd like to see more CM use of Hatsune Miku, however I already use an instant messenger and if I can't communicate to the list I already built up over the years, then it's a no go for me.
thousand master II, Internet Learner, Auto didacta
http://pipopaz.wordpress.com/
I like the vid! I've been a messe user for almost 6 years that i have an email, started in colombia when i was 12 years old and still am addicted to it! ^_^
houkouonchi
http://www.flickr.com/photos/red_mango/
So cute. What is the likelihood that it will be on a Mac platform?
♦College Student♦
I use Live because that's pretty much what everyone around here uses. Plus skype. I'm now wanting a windows shirt. I usually don't like vocaloid vids but that was nice o:
Technical Account Manager
http://howdoyoufigure.wordpress.com
Wow, the MS office in Japan looks very different from where I am in Charlotte... Is that a Tecra M2 or M3? I had an M3 when I started 3 years ago. :)
student, part-time NEET
Hmm, interesting news! When I visited my relatives in Taiwan just this winter, almost all of them (who used a computer) used MSN messenger. I think NicoNico extended their services for Taiwanese users, too, right?
I personally only have experience with AIM, and these days I hardly even log on that; Ventrilo and forums for me now.
In the last picture, Trooper Danny is saying, "You might want to make the resolution better; it's already hard enough to see through this helmet!"
JR. College Student
http://npc.talkingincircles.net/
I'm kind of confused how that video was supposed to make me want to use MSN messenger but it was cool anyway (though the 3D work could be better...).
Personally, I use pidgin which incorporates all my messenger accounts /protocols into one application (Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN, AIM, ect).
2nd year Civil Engineering Student
http://soonkiong.blogspot.com
I use WLM all the time since most of my peers are on it. Nice feature if implemented.
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
http://ejump.wordpress.com/
Currently using pidgin.. moved from trillian..
Anyway, looking forward to see how other major company atmosphere looks and feel like. While i was in California, the company atmosphere was totally different than back in malaysia. But i heard its not even comparable to the likes of yahoo and google.
Half Engineer, Half Student, All Robot
http://discombobulatedyouth.blogspot.com/
Companies like Google tend to pee their capital away because they have so much of it. :) I think software/web-centric companies have a playful, free spending culture while more hardware-centric companies, like Sun and IBM, have a more fun, but frugal culture. I would guess it's due to the age difference.
Looking for work again
http://flickr.com/photos/darktek13/
I use pidgin as well.
Consultant
I am also using pidgin and stopped trillian because it was too bloated.
university film student | ecchikid | the Archivist
http://www.vimeo.com/longhim
Pantsu-shot? o_O Well, well.
Nice CG, and I'm sure this commercial is especially interesting to those who have been in the MS office before. Doesn't do too much to me though. I already use Windows Live on Windows, and Adium when on OSX, but it's rare that I'm on any sort of chat-service anyway.
Professional Panhandler
http://theinfernoproject.com
...they should buy miku as their mascot for worldwide use ^^
and I've been using WLM as well. It was sad when I first started using MSN in 2002 and people around me were still using ICQ and wouldn't switch over because they didn't like how MSN looked...
流浪人
I've got the song stuck in my head, now... ^^;
Dog of the Country
no wonder i see miku in my japanese version of windows live hotmail.. and regarding windows live, i realised that they have being "taking" ideas from many areas.. For eg, windows live office is a direct copy of google apps. Skydrive is taken from Apple's Mobile Me.. the list goes on i guess =/
Hikikomori
http://toxxyn.blogspot.com/
I use Windows Live Messenger, I have other messengers installed but rarely ever use them.
Student of Computer Info. & Office Sys.
I was surprised at her kuma pantsu. I expected Miku shimapan
Daigakusei [Consular and Diplomatic Affairs]
http://dixinfernal.wordpress.com
even though i don't use Windows Live Messenger that commercial got me begging for more~
Miku is sooo adorable^^
IT Student
http://naouak.hyperthese.net
I prefer jabber but since almost all my contact use ms I'm stuck with it.
a guy who cares (sort of...)
LOL Windows Live Messenger is the first thing I throw out after installing fresh copy of Windows (well not any more since I made a tweaked version of install disc). In Poland nobody use WLM maybe except form Microsoft staff :D. We have our own set of IM's like GaduGadu, Spik, Tlen or AQQ.
amazing video with kawaii miku inside it ^^:
Blogger, consultant
http://www.netharuka.com
0.0
I'm speechless...
0.0
"Apparently its a first that a corporate company is using Miku for CM purposes..." Yeah, I couldn't possibly imagine Microsoft using that commercial in the US. Their commercials come off really corporate and slightly dull. Kinda like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BN-XQk6yIk
Even the recent MS commercials featuring Seinfeld come off corporate safe. No way, they'd use a commercial with a pantsu shot. >.<
Anyhow, maybe it's a difference in how the company is perceived over there. MS isn't a cool hip company here in the US; it's big brother.
Nekophilia
AWESOME!! NND in Msn.. Its like a dream come true xD
anime/cosplay events organizer
http://www.cosplay.ph
This is indeed interesting...
Not only on Live Messenger playing Nico Videos but also a corporate company making use of Miku i their promotions
May I ask, what is the most widely used IM service in Japan?
Here, YM is the most widely used IM
I have YM, Windows Live Messenger, AIM and Gtalk ^^
Do you have or use an IM Danny?
Student
http://konadora.wordpress.com
Wow, would be a very welcome feature for us ^^;
Currently using Windows Live Messenger with Live Plus! add-on. Couldn't quite get used to other messengers, and there's also the hassle of transferring contacts and stuff >.<
Very interesting last picture btw. Do you go to work dressed as a Stormtrooper? :P
Student & Game Designer
http://www.artificialzeromedia.com/
Windows Live & ICQ here
pissed off of ICQ but there are still so many that only use ICQ, that I cannot abandon it yet
Student
I use msn & wlm since my first day on the computer so I won't change, don't forget irc for gaming tho
I use to use Trillian, but the handful of people that i used it with all have skype, which can basically serve the same purpose, along with video chats, and other misc functions. Even then, i rarely use it.
I thought Trillian would be good since it combined AIM, ICQ, and another into one, but it just isn't popular with my crowd.
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..
Cute video..Maybe i can do it in the near future...
High school student, Programmer
In my country, we don't use Messenger.
I think most of people even don't know about it.
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my
Ah Ha! now I remember you really did owe us the article on "Corporate life in Amazon & Microsoft"
so I assume Microsoft will have the like from otaku in Japan~~~~
Student
I use Pidgin mostly. It supports different protocols I need.
Corporate Attorney, Part-time Musician, and Otaku Extraordinaire
Aww, such a cute Miku video!^_^
I'm such a sucker for Miku..
Ninja / Engineer / Sensei / 魔法少女 (What!?! I can't be, I'm a guy...)
Miku is definitely rising! Go Miku!
All round good guy and musician
A Miku pantsu shot!!!
Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dramacd/
I see Microsoft is targeting a certain audience with this.
Scientist, unemployed.
http://fmphoenixhawk.livejournal.com
Neat video. I use AIM mostly, but Skype for online D&D sessions and Chatzilla for IRC chats.
Student
http://anime.tedfox.com/
so where do i find this version of messenger?
Playing with 16G needles!
I dun think there is any yet lol. But nevertheless its nicely done!
IT manager
You joined Microsoft?! Talk about "The Dark Side." Sheesh!
Pre-U Student
http://wakuwakusuru.zeroclipse.net
Is Nico Vid in WLM gonna be implemented internationally or only catering to the Japanese market?
Programming Student
http://greendiscord.blogspot.com/
lol miku joined the microsoft side
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
Yeah. Well just for promoting and doing this vid... only.
Consultant
Wow it must be such a hassle bringing your stormtrooper outfit for this pic. What a trooper!
Otaku ^^
Is there any way to download a permanent copy (HD if available) on this vid. Very nice song. I don't mind a copy of the song in MP3.
d@@b