This will show you how to use ichat or imessage to talk to msn on osx, without using the jabber method.

• go to cocoon.drinkbrainjuice.com
• download and install their (beta) plugin
• open ichat > preferences > accounts
• click ‘add’
• pick ‘MSN’ from the list
• enter your details!

You now have MSN in your ichat / imessage, without using jabber transports!

also, microsoft just announced that they have opened up xmpp for msn, but it requires a special auth, so we may see more ways to do this in the future!