Social networking site Bebo is teaming up with Microsoft to offer instant messaging on the site.

Bebo users will soon be able to use the Windows Live Messenger instant messaging service within Bebo.

The partnership will mean that Bebo will lets its 36 million global users to export and import contacts between the site and Windows Live online services.

There are also plans that will see a special Bebo version of Live Messenger in Bebo pages.

This will let users on the social networking site instant message one another with one click from their profile page and will include an "IM Me" icon that people can add to their profile.

Bebo says that around 90% of its users also use Windows Live Messenger so it would appear that it will be a welcome application.

This is the first time that Microsoft has officially provided its messaging service to a social networking site.

Bebo was recently shown to be the most visited social network site in the UK.

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