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The Microsoft Network <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">Image:Msn-logo-big.png</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border: 0px solid #aaaaaa">

URL	http://www.msn.com/<tr><th>Commercial?</th><td>Mixed</td></tr>
Type of site	Portal<tr><th>Registration</th><td>Optional</td></tr>
Owner	Microsoft Corporation
Created by	MSN, Microsoft

For other uses, see MSN (disambiguation).

For the IM service colloquially known as 'MSN', see .NET Messenger Service.

MSN (or The Microsoft Network) is a collection of Internet services provided by Microsoft. Initially released on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of Windows 95, the range of services has since changed greatly. The Hotmail webmail service was amongst the first, followed by the instant messenger service MSN Messenger, which has recently been replaced by Windows Live Messenger. According to Alexa.com, MSN.com is currently ranked 2nd amongst all websites for Traffic Rank.<ref>Alexa - Related info for: MSN.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.</ref>

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 in a climate of increasing competition from rivals such as Google, Yahoo and Skype. The Windows Live brand is currently being rolled out service-by-service, with rebranded services being classed as BETA tests 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. With 9 million subscribers, MSN is the second largest Internet Service Provider in the United States behind America Online service with 26.5 million. In other countries, MSN uses underwriters for their services; in the UK, Microsoft use BTInternet.

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. One 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.

Contents 1 History 2 MSN Affiliates 3 Windows Live 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] 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. On February 14, 2000, MSN adopted its current multi-coloured "butterfly" logo. <ref>Microsoft Corporation (2000-02-14). New Microsoft Ad Campaign Encourages People to Experience The Everyday Web on MSN. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-11-22. </ref>

[edit] 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. THe longest MSN convo ever was 3 and a half hours on dec. 1st 2006

[edit] Windows Live

Main article: Windows Live

In 2006, the majority of MSN services and 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 only 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 one's 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 is now called 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, and
• MSN Alerts are now called Windows Live Alerts.

The future status of two current offerings, MSN Explorer and MSN Groups, is not currently public.

New services have been announced, such as Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner and Windows Live Favorites.

[edit] 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
• List of search engines
• MSN Groups
• MSN Chat
• MSN Soapbox
• MSN Chat Sniffer

[edit] References

<references />

[edit] External links

• MSN.com
• MSN.ca
• MSN.co.uk
• MSN Web Messenger
• MSN Games
• MSN Shopping
• 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
• Windows Live

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