Microsoft Gives Windows Live a Makeover
Microsoft announced today that they will be making changes to Windows Live. They created new applications that will be available on their Windows Live Suite. These applications give a fun and easier way for users to aggregate different parts of their online life.
The services available on this next generation Windows Live are: Windows Live Photos, Profiles, People, and Groups. They also allowed users to use third-party services such as Flickr, LinkedIn, Pandora, Photobucket, StumbleUpon, TripIt, Twitter, and Yelp.
Chris Jones, corporate vice president of Windows Live Experience Program Management at Microsoft made this statement about the new Windows Live:
“Think of Windows Live as the single place where people using our e-mail, messaging and photo-sharing services can stay connected. Our customers have friends across the Web. They communicate through many unconnected Web services and want access to it all from a single location — without worrying about how it’s done. Now Windows Live takes care of that, with an integrated personal communication service that works across the Web with optimized experiences on the PC and mobile phone.”
The updated services for Windows Live will be available in the U.S. during the next few weeks and worldwide in 2009.
Here are some of the services available for the new Windows Live:
· Windows Live SkyDrive – Microsoft’s online storage increased from 5 GB to 25 GB.
· Windows Live Messenger – A more personalized instant messaging service which includes drag and drop photo sharing and a group chat for up to 20 people simultaneously.
· Windows Live Hotmail – Increased in storage capacity and an 80 percent spam filtering effectiveness. It allows features aggregation of multiple e-mail accounts and a revamped calendar.
· Windows Live Groups – An online place for friends, clubs, or any other group to meet. This includes shared calendars, photo and file storage, and group and individual instant messaging.
· Windows Live People – The main address book for Windows Live.
· Windows Live FrameIt – Allows users to shares files to digital picture frames.