Tip: How to use XBL Beacons on Windows Phone

Click to enlarge the step-by-step guide

The Xbox Live service received a ton of new features with the arrival of the Fall 2011 Dashboard update a few weeks ago, but many were exclusive to the Xbox 360. Fortunately Microsoft hasn't forgotten about us Windows Phone users with the mobile version of the Xbox Live website adding support for Beacons. Users of the Xbox 360 will be familiar with this feature, but for those unacquainted Beacons is a way to tell friends you want to play a game online with someone.

How does it work on Windows Phone? It's pretty easy and it's all done through Internet Explorer 9. Read the instructions below while referring to the visual guide above:

Step 0:?Visit http://live.xbox.com/ and sign in with the Windows Live ID associated with your Xbox account. [Not pictured]

Step 1:?Tap on your gamerpic in the top-right corner of the screen (next to the Xbox logo) and two options will appear below it. Tap on "My Profile".

Step 2:?Scroll all the way down until you see a section called Beacons. If you have no beacons set, tap on 'Set a beacon now'.

• Step 2a:?If you already have some beacons set, tap on any of the games listed under 'My Recent Activity'. Then skip to Step 4.

Step 3:?You will be on a page called 'My Recent Activity' which lists all of your recently-played games. Tap on the game you want to set the Beacon for. In this example we'll use Angry Birds.

Step 4:?You will now be on the?game?page. Tap on 'Set Beacon'. (It will be to the right of the game icon and underneath the gamerscore and achievements count.)

Step 5:?The 'Set Beacon' page will automatically bring up the keyboard, and you will see a default message in the text box. You can delete this message and add your own custom one up to 40 characters in length.

That's it! This should work well with turn-by-turn Windows Phone games and of course you can manage Beacons for your Xbox 360 games too since it's all under one Xbox Live account.?Enjoy this new tip and happy multiplayer gaming!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/windowsphonedaily/DnwK/~3/bPZoWPzkRA4/tip-how-to-use-xbl-beacons-on-windows.html

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