msn

MSN (or the Microsoft Network) is a collection of Internet services provided by Microsoft. Initially released by Microsoft on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of Windows 95, the range of services has since expanded greatly. The Hotmail webmail service was amongst the first, followed by the instant messenger service MSN Messenger, which has recently been completely replaced by Windows Live Messenger.

MSN was largely rebranded in 2006 to Windows Live, which saw the release of Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Messenger, when Microsoft overhauled its online software and services to attract a broader range of customers, in a climate of increasing competition from rivals such as Google. The Windows Live brand is currently being rolled out service-by-service, with rebranded services being classed as a BETA test, initially. It is anticipated that the MSN service will aim at the personal and family user, whilst Windows Live will be a dedicated search facility for various media.

In the United States, MSN is not only a content provider and search engine, it is additionally an Internet Service Provider. In other countries, MSN uses underwriters for their services, in the case of the UK, Microsoft use BTInternet. With 9 million subscribers, MSN is the second largest Internet Service Provider in the United States behind America Online service with 26.5 million.

The word "MSN" has come to be synonymous with MSN Messenger in Internet slang. To use MSN services, the users must have a Microsoft Passport Network account, an account system which allows access to all of the Microsoft Network facilities. You can sign-up using any e-mail address, and can then use personalised MSN (now Live) features requiring the use of a Microsoft Passport. These personalised features include 'My MSN', Hotmail and the ability to sign-into Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger), and the now retired (as from Windows Vista) Windows Messenger.

History

MSN was originally conceived as an online service provider in the vein of America Online, supplying proprietary content through an interface that matched that of Windows 95's Windows Explorer. The service was then rebranded in a new "MSN 2.0" incarnation, which combined traditional internet services with web delivered proprietary content.

The new content made extensive use of multimedia and interactive features, including VBScript and early implementations of Macromedia Flash for animations. While the approach was quite unique, the content wasn't easily accessible by users with low-end computers and dial-up connections (high-bandwidth Internet access hadn't yet hit the mainstream). As a result, the service was again rebranded as a more traditional Internet service provider, soon adopting its current multi-coloured "butterfly" logo. ^{citation needed]}

MSN Affiliates

Microsoft has collaborated with many other service providers, as well as other Microsoft departments to expand the appeal of the Microsoft Network, examples include:

• MSN Shopping — affiliated with eBay, Pricegrabber and Shopping.com
• MSN Encarta encyclopedia with various levels of access to information and cost.
• MSN Spaces blog community launched December 2004.
• MSN adCenter

In addition MSN Premium subscribers also receive:

• MSN Firewall and MSN Virus Guard, provided by McAfee
• Webroot Spy Sweeper for MSN

Microsoft has found increasing competition from other service providers, such as Google and Yahoo! The recent launch of Google Earth was shortly followed by a similar offering from MSN. Suffice it to say, MSN, Yahoo! and Google are rapidly expanding the services they offer, and with little difference between them, except personal preference. Similarly, while MSN Premium does offer the use of Firewall, Virus and Spyware programs for free, other broadband providers also offer similar (or identical) services for their subscribers.

Windows Live

Main article: Windows Live

In 2006, the majority of MSN services and MSN branded software will be upgraded and re-branded with the new Windows Live name. This is part of Microsoft’s strategy to improve its online offerings through better services and software using the Windows brand name. MSN will then become just an online content provider through internet portals such as msn.com.

Windows Live will use new web technology to offer software-like features and functionality through your web browser. This is evident with Windows Live Mail where a right-click menu can be used and the interface mimics that of Microsoft Outlook. Windows Live also accompanies Office Live which will offer Microsoft Office programs and service through an internet browser.

Completed and speculated name changes:

• MSN Hotmail is becoming Windows Live Mail,
• MSN Messenger is now called Windows Live Messenger,
• MSN Search will become Windows Live Search,
• MSN Virtual Earth will become Windows Live Local,
• MSN Mobile will become Windows Live Mobile,
• MSN Spaces are now called Windows Live Spaces,
• MSN Alerts is now called Windows Live Alerts,

It is doubtful that the aging MSN Explorer will ever become Windows Live Explorer^{citation needed]}, and will probably be discontinued^{citation needed]}, as no news has been received officially as to the future of this product. Likewise, MSN Groups, now rather hidden, have received no news regarding their future, although obviously could become Windows Live Groups.

Among other name changes, new services will also be offered such as Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner which features a free anti-virus detection scan as part of Windows Live OneCare (complete anti-virus detection and removal and Microsoft Firewall). And Windows Live Favorites which will allows you to access your internet favourites from anywhere using an internet browser.

All these services were released in 2006.

See also

• List of MSN Services
• List of search engines
• MSN Explorer
• MSN Games
• MSN Maps
• MSN Messenger
• MSN Search Toolbar
• MSN Shopping
• Windows Live

External links

• MSN.com
• MSN.ca
• MSN.co.uk
• MSN Web Messenger
• MSN Games
• MSN Shopping
• MSN Chat
• MSN Member Directory
• MSN Groups
• Microsoft AdCenter
• MSN Video
• MSN Money - Get Stock Quotes, Read Market News, or Shop Mortgage Rates.
• MSN Real Estate - Resources for Buying, Selling or Renting your home.
• MSN Weather - Weather forcasts, current conditions, maps & news.
• MSN Video Conference