Microsoft Adds Social Networking Features to Windows Live

By: Sara Smith
Staff Writer
Published: Nov 13, 2008

Microsoft is releasing a new update to Windows Live which will include new social networking features. The company plans to merge its Live Messenger, Hotmail, Spaces, and its blog network into one network. The new update will be released this month.

Microsoft Corp on Wednesday unveiled new plans to turn its Windows Live online services into a social networking hub. The new social network will merge other existing Microsoft applications which include Hotmail, Live Messenger, Spaces and photos.

The new migrated social networking platform is Microsoft's latest strategy to compete with other online community sites such as MySpace and News Corp's MySpace. The new Windows Live will feature a main profile page for users to add friends and identify them with photos.

Windows Live will also include more than 50 outside Web services including Yahoo Inc's Flickr photo site. Microsoft hopes to simplify new user accounts by using one login for e-mail and instant messaging.

"What we see the focus needing to be now is, essentially, on the race to simplify the Web," Brian Hall, general manager for Windows Live, said in a statement. "I shouldn't have to do the same thing on multiple networks ... That's the core problem that we're solving," he added.

Microsoft is taking its new social networking approach seriously. The software giant plans to overhaul its e-mail, calendar and new photo application. The new services will be available in the United States over the coming weeks.

Eventually, the new Windows Live social networking application will be available in 54 countries early next year.