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In another indication of Microsoft's newfound fondness for collaboration, the company has shared APIs with the five social networks, so that members can invite their friends to join them on the instant messaging service.

Microsoft has set up a new website - Invitetomessenger.net - where Messenger members simply have to log in, choose which

LinkedIn, Bebo, Hi5 and Tagged are the other four networks that will allow members to share contacts, although Facebook is the only one that currently works. The others all have a "coming soon" label, as does Microsoft's own Hotmail service - suggesting even different departments within Microsoft itself are having problems getting their head around this new caring, sharing approach.

The Microsoft/Facebook deal comes as potential Microsoft acquisition Yahoo joined Google's OpenSocial, a project that aims to make it easier to share applications across multiple social networking sites.

Facebook and Microsoft have so far resisted the lure of OpenSocial, suggesting something of a divide is emerging in the social networking industry.