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MSN Messenger :

Along with Sounds, this feature was one of the first features added to X10Dispatch.  It is at the center of its alerting and command capabilities, although several other alternative alerting mechanisms have been since added.   

X10Dispatcher can be configured to maintain a permanent MSN contact existence.  You simply make a new MSN user account devoted specifically for X10Dispatcher and enter its logon information into X10Dispatcher, and it will log onto MSN and be your MSN buddy wherever you may be.  Doing this, no matter where you are, you have your X10Dispatcher available who can act as an agent or butler for your home.  Forget to turn on the lights?  Log into MSN Messenger and tell it to turn on the lights.  Curious about how many times your X10-wired doorbell has rung, log into X10Dispatcher and request a history of previous X10 Activity.  If you arm your system, then while you are away at work you can be alerted via an X10 Message when an X10 Event is heard like a motion sensor.  In our cell phone dependant world, you might (in addition to basic cell phone text message alerting) have a cell phone equipped with MSN Messeger... if that is that case the you could trigger your X10 wired sprinkler system to run while you are waiting for a flight at the airport.

While there are other means to monitor, be alerted, and 'command' X10 Dispatcher (such as email/cell phone text messaging and web interface), MSN remains the most interactive means allowing the most functionality, if it is available to you.

In addition to alerting, some of the 'command' features include requesting history of X10 activity, eavesdropping on X10 Activity continuously, requesting that camera images be sent (either via MSN or to an email), you can send x10 commands over your network to turn on lights etc, you can send yourself notes to and from home (such as internet links or address to mail bills to), you can command X10 Dispatcher to 'speak' a message to communicate with anyone who might be home to listen, and you can initiate X10Dispatch Macros to perform a number of predefined actions sequences which can be used to activate certain themes or actions. 

X10 Dispatcher must be configured with a Trusted Contact.  The Trusted Contact is the MSN account which it will send alerts to and can receive commands from.  This allows for security... if any MSN user other than the  X10Dispatcher Trusted Contact attempts to 'talk' to X10Dispatcher, it will tell them to go away and it will not allow them to send any commands.  Perhaps in the future, multiple Trusted Contacts will be supported, but for now, you can only have one.