You can check the status of the messanger service (though I know it's working, I'm on now)
http://messenger.msn.com/Status.aspx
And this is what else they said:
Connectivity
Why can't I connect to .NET Messenger Service?There could be several reasons why you are unable to sign into .NET Messenger Service.
Try the following:
If your Passport is not recognized, go to a Passport site (
http://www.passport.com or
http://www.hotmail.com) sign in, and make sure you are recognized there. If you are recognized there but still can't sign into .NET Messenger Service, the messaging servers could be temporarily down for maintenance or may have reached capacity due to heavy Internet traffic (during peak usage hours). Wait a short while, and then try again. You can check our server status page for the latest information on the service.
You may also want to:
Disable your 'auto-detect' settings on your browser. For Internet Explorer users, click the IE Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Connections tab, click the LAN Settings button, and then clear the 'Automatically Detect Settings' box.
Check for a false proxy setting. On the MSN Messenger Tools menu, click Options. On the Connection tab, be sure the 'I use a proxy server' check box is clear. This option should only be selected if your network administrator tells you to do so.
HOME or PERSONAL LAN USERS
If you are using ICS or Router for Home LAN, you may need to adjust some of your settings or update hardware/firmware drivers. For more information on this, search on LAN or Network in the MSN Messenger Help Topics from the MSN Messenger client.
Firewalls and third-party applications may also affect your ability to connect to MSN Messenger. To see if any of these applications are affecting your connectivity, you can disable the application(s) and then try to connect to the .Net Messenger service.
CORPORATE USERS
If you are behind a firewall or within a company local area network (LAN), MSN Messenger and other instant messaging programs could be blocked by the firewall or your company's security restrictions. Please contact your Network Administrator for assistance. For more information on what ports a Network Administrator should open for MSN Messenger to work, please see "Using MSN Messenger from Behind Firewalls or Network Address Translators (NATs)" found in Help (Help | Help Topics | All Topics). Make sure that in MSN Messenger under Tools | Options, the I use a proxy server check box is clear on the Connection tab. Only certain proxy servers require this, so unless you have been told to select this by your network administrator, do not do so.
Good luck.
- Modem
