For a while, I’ve been jealous of the Flickr API Explorer and the Facebook API Test console. So I started building one for the Windows Live Contacts API last week only to find out that there was already one out there which hadn’t been sufficiently publicized.

If you’re a developer interested in seeing what the Windows Live Contacts API offers and already have a Windows Live ID (formerly Passport account) then mosey on down to the the Live Data Interactive SDK page. Once you get there, click on the link that says Click to Request Permission , scroll down and hit [Give Access] to give the page access to your Windows Live address book. Once redirected, click “Work with Contacts” and then you can create, retrieve, update and delete people from your Hotmail and Messenger contact lists using a simple RESTful protocol with direct access to the XML responses. 

Below is a screenshot of me retrieving my Messenger contact using the interactive SDK.

Now playing: Baby Bash - Cyclone (feat. T-Pain)