Microsoft goes "Live" with web-based tools

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates outlined ambitious plans to expand the company's internet footprint with web-based tools ranging from several current betas (OneCare, Kahuna) to all-new services, all under the "Windows Live" and "Office Live" brands. According to Gates, many of the services will be available in either ad-free subscription forms, or ad-supported free versions. Gates also said that many Windows Live services will have open APIs, allowing other companies to build on them. The company also launched a beta of the Windows Live portal, Live.com, which is a somewhat deeper version of Start.com (and which doesn't yet support Firefox, though Microsoft promises to remedy that shortly). The Live.com beta is slated to include support for inline Hotmail/Windows Mail previews, along with support for Microsoft's widget-esque Gadgets. While Microsoft's moves may not amount to a huge surprise to anyone who has been watching the company over the past few months, they highlight how seriously the company takes the competition from Google and other companies providing ad-supported, web-based services. Looks like things are about to get very interesting.

 

Tags: commercial, freeware