MSN Messenger is the software program that is installed on your computer. The .NET Messenger Service is the service that Messenger connects to so that you can send and receive messages, see the online status of your contacts, receive alerts, and so forth. MSN Messenger is like your own telephone, while the .NET Messenger Service is like the phone service that allows your telephone to connect to other phones.
MSN Messenger je računalniški program, nameščen v vašem računalniku. .NET Messenger Service je storitev, s katero Messenger vzpostavi povezavo, tako da lahko pošiljate in prejemate sporočila, vidite stanje prijavljenosti svojih stikov, prejemate opozorila itd. MSN Messenger ima podobno funkcijo kot telefon, medtem ko ima .NET Messenger Service funkcijo telefonske storitve, ki telefonu omogoča vzpostavljanje povezave z drugimi telefoni.