They provide users the ability to interact with the agents through Windows Live Messenger to get more information about specific topics.

Windows Live Agents are used to entertain, encourage engagement with products or services, provide a new advertising opportunity for brand advertisers, and drive search and information retrieval.

Several agents that were available include: In October 2006, Microsoft acquired privately owned Colloquis Inc., a provider of conversational online business solutions that feature natural language-processing technology.

Microsoft plans to offer services based on Colloquis technology to businesses with online operations, as well as incorporating the technology into its own products, including Windows Live Agents and Microsoft's Customer Care Framework (CCF).

In March 2016, a similar concept of "Bots" was announced for Windows Live Messenger successor program Skype.