MSN Spaces Debuts Alongside Improvements to MSN Messenger and MSN Hotmail To
Help Customers Connect in a Seamless and Meaningful Way
REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The MSN(R) network of
Internet services today introduced updates to its free communication services
to make e-mail, instant messaging and online sharing easier and more personal
for consumers. The updates include a beta version of MSN Spaces, a new Web
logging (blogging) service that enables consumers to create their own personal
place on the Web, as well as a beta version of MSN Messenger 7.0, updates to
MSN Hotmail(R), and deeper integration between the services to enable more
compelling communications experiences for consumers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"Communicating with others is the No. 1 thing people do online. As widely
used as our individual services are today, we know we can do more to help our
customers communicate across the different modes they use, like blogs, instant
messaging and e-mail," said Blake Irving, corporate vice president for the MSN
Communication Services and Member Platform Group. "The investments MSN is
making in MSN Spaces, MSN Messenger and MSN Hotmail are designed to break down
some of the barriers between the services so people can focus less on the
technology and more on the people they care about."
MSN Spaces: More Than a Blog
The MSN Spaces beta version is a free service available in 14 languages
and 26 markets worldwide. MSN Spaces was designed to make it easy for
consumers to create and maintain a personal Web site, bringing the power and
benefits of blogging to millions of Internet users, regardless of their level
of technical expertise. More than a blogging tool, MSN Spaces is a dynamic
online scrapbook where consumers can share photo albums, personal music lists
and more. And more than an ordinary personal Web site, through seamless
integration with MSN Messenger and MSN Hotmail, MSN Spaces will automatically
notify online contacts when a person's Space has been updated so his or her
online community knows when it is time to pay a visit. People can sign up for
MSN Spaces through MSN Messenger or by going to http://spaces.msn.com. Key
features of the service include the following:
-- Control your Space. Consumers can choose the people who visit their
Space through three levels of permissions: public, MSN Messenger
contacts only or private.
-- Use pictures and music to say more. MSN Spaces enable consumers to
easily display their pictures via a photo album slide show. Consumers
can easily share playlists through their Space with Microsoft(R)
Windows Media(R) technologies. With just two clicks, people can sample
or purchase a song on someone's playlist through MSN Music**.
-- Create an extension of yourself. Contact Cards - a new addition to MSN
Messenger and Hotmail -- are windows into a consumer's Space, mirroring
its look and the most recent information posted. MSN Spaces also
supports RSS, so consumers can publish their Space to others by way of
RSS viewers and aggregators -- including My MSN, coming soon.
-- Post remote updates. Consumers can post updates to their Space remotely
via e-mail or a mobile phone.
-- Make it your own. Fifteen custom backgrounds and five layout templates
give consumers a way to quickly customize and personalize their Space.
MSN Messenger: More Expressive Than Ever
Available in 26 languages, the public beta release of MSN Messenger builds
on the popular IM service which supports more than 145 million active users
worldwide each month, and offers consumers new ways to express themselves
online and personalize their instant messaging experience. Available for
download at http://messenger.msn.com/beta , the beta release of MSN Messenger
will give consumers a taste of what's to come with the final release, expected
next year. Features in the MSN Messenger 7.0 beta enable consumers to do the
following:
-- Get attention. Consumers can reach out to friends and family by sending
a "Nudge," an alert that shakes the contact's conversation window with
an audible notification, or a "Wink," animated pictures that include
sound and that can be virtually "thrown" onto the screen of a contact's
Internet message (IM) window. New emoticons, backgrounds and theme
packs from Microsoft Corp., including advertiser-sponsored packs such
as for "Halo(R) 2",* round out the experience.
-- Stay connected. Through integration with MSN Messenger, consumers can
automatically let their contacts know that they have updated their MSN
Space. The MSN Messenger Contact icon "gleams" when an update is made,
notifying others to visit the Space via the Contact Card.
-- Access the Web anywhere. MSN Web Messenger, shipping in 25 markets and
15 languages, enables consumers to access their MSN Messenger account
and contacts from virtually any PC with an Internet connection.
-- Choose your online status. The beta release of MSN Messenger gives
consumers more control over how they're seen online by enabling them to
choose their availability status before logging into Messenger.
MSN Hotmail: Bringing It All Together
MSN Hotmail, the largest free Web e-mail system in the world with more
than 187 million active accounts, rounds out the trio of free, integrated
communication services. MSN Hotmail recently introduced 250MB inboxes to new
consumers in nine markets and launched a photo upload tool for all consumers
to make it easier for them to share pictures online. The beta versions of MSN
Spaces and MSN Messenger help give consumers even more ways to communicate and
share through MSN Hotmail, including these:
-- View online status anywhere. Through integration between MSN Hotmail
and MSN Web Messenger, in select markets, consumers are able to see
Messenger availability status even on PCs that don't have MSN Messenger
client software.
-- Learn more about Contacts. MSN Hotmail consumers who have an MSN Spaces
site will have a Contact Card visible in the Hotmail address book,
providing friends, family and other online contacts with one-click
access to their Spaces site.
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 360 million unique users worldwide per month. With
localized versions available globally in 40 markets and 20 languages, MSN is a
world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising
opportunities to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online
service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make
the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at
http://www.msn.com . MSN worldwide sites are located at
http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
* Availability limited to English-speaking markets including the
United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada (English)
** Available in select markets
The service features listed herein relate to prerelease features and
content that may be modified before their commercial release or withdrawn.
Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the
service channels and content as they appear when they are commercially
released. This information is provided for informational purposes only, and
Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to this
document or the information contained in it.
NOTE: Microsoft, MSN, Hotmail, Windows Media and Halo are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
| |
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Rhian Rotz, +1-503-443-7000, or
rhianr@wagged.com, or Rapid Response Team, +1-503-443-7070, or
rrt@wagged.com, both of Waggener Edstrom, for Microsoft Corp.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were
correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For
additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact
Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts
listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
| |
|
