Microsoft has just announced the release of a Windows Live instant messaging client for its Xbox 360 game console, giving gamers the capability of chatting to their PC friends.

There was already a video and voice chat feature via Xbox Live, but this feature enables players to connect with up to 6 people at a time on their Windows Live contact lists. Microsoft says there's currently 260 million people using the Windows Live instant messaging service.

One hitch remains: just how in the world are users going to be able to enter text with their controllers? Microsoft says they're going to release a QWERTY device, which is basically a regular Xbox 360 controller with a keyboard added onto the bottom, that will allow users to type normally, when Microsoft releases the software on May 7.