The Microsoft Network
URL	www.msn.com
Commercial?	Mixed
Type of site	Portal
Registration	Optional
Owner	Microsoft
Created by	Microsoft
Launched	1995
Current status	active

MSN (The Microsoft Network) is a collection of Internet services provided by Microsoft. Uniform Resource Locator is an URI which also specifies where the identified resource is available and the protocol for retrieving it A web portal is a site that provides a single function via a web page or site Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system. An online service provider is inclusive to Internet service providers and Web sites such as Wikipedia 's or Usenet (commonly accessed through An Internet service provider ( ISP, also called Internet access provider or IAP) is a company which primarily offers their customers access to the Internet Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented Graphical user interface -based Operating system. An operating system (commonly abbreviated OS and O/S) is the software component of a Computer system that is responsible for the management and coordination

The range of services offered by MSN has changed significantly since its initial release in 1995. Many of Microsoft's popular web-based services, such as Hotmail and Messenger, were originally offered by MSN before being reorganized as part of Microsoft's Windows Live group of online services. The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked Hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live Windows Live services Live Search See also Live Search As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments MSN's Internet portal, MSN. A web portal is a site that provides a single function via a web page or site com, offers a wealth of content and is currently the 7th most visited domain name on the Internet. In Computer networking, a domain name is a name given to a collection of network devices that belong to a domain which is an administrative space managed according ^[1]

MSN, the Internet service provider

MSN Classic

MSN Classic sign-in screen

The concept for MSN was created by the Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft, headed by Nathan Myhrvold. Nathan Myhrvold (born 1959 in Seattle Washington) formerly Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, is co-founder of Intellectual Ventures, which MSN was originally conceived as a dial-up online content provider like America Online, supplying proprietary content through an artificial folder-like interface integrated into Windows 95's Windows Explorer file management program. Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via Telephone lines The user's computer or Router uses an attached Modem connected to a Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented Graphical user interface -based Operating system. This article is about the Windows file system browser For the similarly named internet browser see Internet Explorer Windows Explorer is a

Then officially known as "The Microsoft Network," the service launched along with Windows 95 on August 24, 1995. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 The service was included with Windows 95 installations and promoted through Windows and other Microsoft software released at the time. Product support and discussion was offered through the MSN service, as well as basic e-mail capabilities, basic information such as news from MSNBC, chat rooms, and newsgroups. Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving MSNBC is a 24-hour cable television news channel based in the United States and available in Canada. The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by Mass media to describe any form of Synchronous conferencing, occasionally even Asynchronous conferencing A newsgroup is a Repository usually within the Usenet system for messages posted from many users in different locations

Open access to the World Wide Web was not originally included in the classic MSN service, but Internet access was offered through Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser, which was available as a download from the MSN service or as part of the Windows 95 Plus! package. The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked Hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. Windows Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer abbreviated MSIE) commonly abbreviated to IE, is a series of graphical A web browser is a software application which enables a user to display and interact with text images videos music games and other information typically located on a Microsoft Plus! is a commercial Operating system enhancement product by Microsoft.

MSN 2. 0

MSN 2. 0 Program Viewer

In 1996, in response to the increasing relevancy and growth of the Internet, the existing MSN service was renamed "MSN Classic" and a new version was created, known as "MSN 2. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks 0," which combined access to the Internet with web-based proprietary content in a new program known as the "MSN Program Viewer. Internet access refers to the means by which users connect to the Internet. "

Microsoft promoted MSN 2. 0 with a series of advertisements and promotional materials describing the service as the "next big bang. " The company offered a preview release of the service on CD-ROM in the fall of 1996, which contained an MSN Preview video that described the new features of the MSN 2. CD-ROM (an initialism of "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory " is a pre-pressed Compact Disc that contains data accessible to but not writable 0 software. The video was formatted as a guided tour of a premiere event for the new MSN. It included a handful of actors and its own music score that played during the installation process. ^[2]

Once installed, the MSN Program Viewer was essentially an animated, stylized and streamlined interface on top of an Internet Explorer 3.0 web browser. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 (Internet Explorer 30 is a graphical Web browser released on August 13 1996 by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and When members signed in, they would be presented with a several different "Channels," which were essentially categories for the various types of content available on MSN.

Accompanying the MSN Program Viewer was MSN Quick Launch, an icon inside the Windows notification area. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. In Computing, the taskbar is a term for an application desktop bar which is used to launch and monitor applications Both programs had menus that could be dynamically updated to guide members to MSN content and services.

The new content made extensive use of multimedia and interactive features, including Visual Basic scripting and early implementations of Macromedia Shockwave Flash (originally called "FutureSplash") for animations. VBScript (short for Visual Basic Scripting Edition) is an Active Scripting language developed by Microsoft. Adobe Flash (previously called Shockwave Flash and Macromedia Flash) is a set of Multimedia software created by Macromedia and currently Interactive multimedia content was presented in a TV-like format, dubbed "MSN shows," as part of a section called "On Stage. "

The many "shows" and content sites included an interactive online week nightly game show called "Netwits," a snarky web site addressing women's issues called "UnderWire," and a regular celebrity interview and web-surfing session called "One Click Away. " These new destinations supplemented web-based MSN services such as CarPoint and Expedia, which were branded as "Essentials. Expedia is an Internet -based Travel agency and a part of Expedia Inc "

While the "MSN shows" approach was unique and innovative, the content was not easily accessible by members with low-end computers and slower dial-up connections, and high-speed Internet access was not widely available at the time. An entire web site, "MSNot: The MSN2 Hate Site," originated as a negative response to the slow speed and unreliability of the software. The site also mocked the music score that repeated the phrase "too stupid to stop" during the MSN 2. 0 installation process. ^[3]

Ultimately, the ambitious use of multimedia content on the Internet during 1996 and 1997 proved to be ahead of its time, and the MSN 2. 0 service was not as successful as Microsoft initially hoped. The company returned to the drawing board for its next MSN release.

Less ambitious attempts

In 1997, after abandoning the "shows" format, the MSN service was again rebranded, this time as a more traditional Internet access service. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar With the MSN 2. 5 release in late 1997, some exclusive content was still offered through the MSN Program Viewer, but the service mainly directed members to "normal" web sites. With the MSN Internet Access 2. 6 release in 1998, the MSN Program Viewer was abandoned entirely in favor of the more familiar Internet Explorer interface. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Another new version of the service, MSN Internet Access 5. 0, was released along with Internet Explorer 5.0 in 1999. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (abbreviated IE5) is a graphical Web browser released in March 1999 by Microsoft, primarily for Microsoft Windows Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) MSN 5. 0 was largely identical to MSN 2. 6.

Around this time, MSN began focusing more on being an Internet portal to users of other Internet service providers. A web portal is a site that provides a single function via a web page or site Building on the success of MSN's web-based email service, Hotmail, which launched in 1996, the MSN Messenger service for instant messaging was launched in 1999. Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

By the release of Windows XP in 2001 (which also brought with it Internet Explorer 6.0), content for MSN Internet Access subscribers was offered through a program called MSN Explorer (MSN 6. Windows XP is a family of 32-bit and 64-bit Operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on Personal computers including home and Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (commonly abbreviated to IE6 is a graphical Web browser developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft MSN Explorer is a Web browser, developed by Microsoft, that integrates MSN and Windows Live features such as Windows Live Hotmail 0). This was similar to the MSN Program Viewer in that it provided MSN web sites and content through a customized interface on top of Internet Explorer. The program was rebranded as simply "MSN" for versions 7, 8, and 9, which were released throughout the next few years. MSN 9 was the last version of MSN's special software for dial-up Internet access.

In recent years

In the United States and Canada, MSN is still a dial-up Internet service provider. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via Telephone lines The user's computer or Router uses an attached Modem connected to a An Internet service provider ( ISP, also called Internet access provider or IAP) is a company which primarily offers their customers access to the Internet MSN remains the second largest Internet service provider in the United States, behind dial-up leader AOL, which had retained about 10 million subscribers by the end of 2007. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[4] MSN bundles its dial-up service with an e-mail account at MSN. com and security software such as firewall and anti-virus programs. A firewall is an integrated collection of security measures designed to prevent unauthorized electronic access to a networked computer system

For broadband customers, MSN has partnered with Verizon, Qwest, and Bell Sympatico to offer high-speed Internet access. The term broadband can have different meanings in different contexts "Verizon" redirects here this article is about the corporation see also Verizon Wireless, Verizon Online DSL and Verizon FiOS. Qwest Communications International Inc (pronounced like "quest" ˈkwɛst ( is a large Telecommunications carrier Verizon, Qwest and Bell provide the broadband connection and directly bill their customers. The included MSN software, known as "MSN Premium," offers a customized interface similar to the MSN 9 dial-up software and security features similar to the Windows Live OneCare security package. Windows Live OneCare (previously known as Windows OneCare Live and formerly code-named A1) is a Computer security and performance enhancement service developed New Verizon customers may not subscribe to MSN Premium, only Windows Live. Existing MSN Premium customers who change to Windows Live may not revert back to MSN Premium because Microsoft is phasing it out.

MSN, the Internet portal

Internet Start

From 1995 to 1998, the MSN.com domain was used to promote MSN as an Internet service provider. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) At the time, MSN. com also offered a custom start page and an Internet tutorial, but Microsoft's major Internet portal was known as "Microsoft Internet Start," located at home.microsoft.com. It served as the default home page for Internet Explorer and offered basic information such as news, weather, sports, stocks, entertainment reports, links to web sites on the Internet, articles by Microsoft staff members, and software updates. Windows Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer abbreviated MSIE) commonly abbreviated to IE, is a series of graphical Microsoft's popular news web site, MSNBC.com, which launched in 1995, was also tied closely to Microsoft Internet Start. MSNBC is a 24-hour cable television news channel based in the United States and available in Canada.

MSN. com

In 1998, the largely underutilized MSN. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) com domain name was reinvented as both an Internet portal and as a brand for a family of sites produced inside Microsoft's Interactive Media Group. In Computer networking, a domain name is a name given to a collection of network devices that belong to a domain which is an administrative space managed according A web portal is a site that provides a single function via a web page or site The new site put MSN in direct competition with sites such as Yahoo! and Go Network. Gocom (also known as The Go Network) is a Web portal first launched by Jeff Gold and now operated by the Walt Disney Internet Group, which is a part of Because the new format opened up MSN's content to the world for free, the Internet service provider and subscription service was renamed "MSN Internet Access" at that time.

The relaunched MSN. com contained a whole family of sites, including original content, channels that were carried over from web shows that were part of the "MSN 2. 0" experiment (although none of the actual shows remained), and new features that were rapidly added. MSN. com also became a successor to the default Internet Explorer start page, as all of the previous "Microsoft Internet Start" web site was merged with MSN. com.

Since then, MSN. com has remained a popular destination, launching many web services and new content sites. MSN's Hotmail and Messenger services were promoted from the MSN. Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live com portal, which provided a central place for all of MSN's content and related web sites. MSN Search, a dedicated search engine for the portal, launched in 1999. Live Search (formerly Windows Live Search and MSN Search) is the name of Microsoft 's web Search engine, designed to compete with the Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The MSN. com portal and related group of services under the "MSN" umbrella remained largely the same throughout much of the next decade.

Windows Live

Windows Live logo

Main article: Windows Live

Many of MSN's services were reorganized in 2006 under a new brand name, Windows Live. Windows Live services Live Search See also Live Search As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Windows Live services Live Search See also Live Search As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments This move was part of Microsoft's strategy to improve its online offerings using the Windows brand name. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. The company also overhauled its online software and services due to increasing competition from rivals such as Yahoo! and Google. Google Inc is an American public corporation, earning revenue from advertising related to its Internet search, e-mail, online The new name was introduced one service at a time. Windows Live uses "Web 2.0" technology to offer features and functionality through a web browser that were traditionally only available through a dedicated software program. Web 20 is a term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and Web design that aims to enhance Creativity, secure

Among the services affected by the rebranding were MSN Hotmail (now called Windows Live Hotmail), MSN Messenger (now called Windows Live Messenger), MSN Search (now called Live Search), MSN Virtual Earth (now called Live Search Maps), MSN Spaces (now called Windows Live Spaces), and MSN Alerts (now called Windows Live Alerts) and in the future, MSN Groups will be rebranded as Windows Live Groups. Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger Live Search (formerly Windows Live Search and MSN Search) is the name of Microsoft 's web Search engine, designed to compete with the Live Search (formerly Windows Live Search and MSN Search) is the name of Microsoft 's web Search engine, designed to compete with the Live Search Maps (previously Windows Live Maps and Windows Live Local) is a Web mapping service provided as a part of Microsoft 's Windows Live Search Maps (previously Windows Live Maps and Windows Live Local) is a Web mapping service provided as a part of Microsoft 's Windows Windows Live Spaces (also known by its users as MSN Spaces) is Microsoft 's Blogging and Social Networking platform Windows Live Spaces (also known by its users as MSN Spaces) is Microsoft 's Blogging and Social Networking platform Windows Live Alerts, formerly MSN Alerts, is a part of the Windows Live services from Microsoft that allows users to get notification of time-sensitive Windows Live Alerts, formerly MSN Alerts, is a part of the Windows Live services from Microsoft that allows users to get notification of time-sensitive MSN Groups is a commercial community site created by Microsoft in 1995. Windows Live Groups is an upcoming service by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live range of services that enable users in Windows Live Spaces to create Microsoft has also not established if MSN Direct will remain a part of the MSN family or transition to Windows Live. MSN Direct is an FM radio -based digital service which allows ' SPOT ' portable devices to receive information from MSN services Since the introduction of Windows Live, some new services have been announced, such as Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner and Windows Live Favorites. Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner (formerly Windows Live Safety Center) is an online scanning and health service to help get rid of viruses spyware malware and other Windows Live Favorites is a part of Microsoft 's Windows Live range of services

After the launch of Windows Live, the focus of MSN shifted to an online news, entertainment, and common interest content provider through its Internet portal, MSN.com, while Windows Live now provides most of Microsoft's online software and services.

Other services known as "MSN"

In addition to the Internet service provider and the Internet portal, the name "MSN" has been used for a number of related services. The two most popular of these are Hotmail and Messenger. For further information, see List of MSN services. This is a list of MSN Services in alphabetical order MSN Services Microsoft adCenter MSN Astrology with astrocenter

Hotmail

Main article: Hotmail

Hotmail is a free web-based email service by Microsoft. Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free Webmail service of the Windows Live Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Originally started as an independent service in 1996, it became part of the MSN family in 1997. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Since 2006, it has been part of Microsoft's Windows Live group of online services. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Windows Live services Live Search See also Live Search As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments Hotmail has over 380 million users worldwide and is available in 35 different languages. ^[5]

Messenger

Main article: .NET Messenger Service

MSN launched an instant messaging service in 1999 to compete with AOL Instant Messenger. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The service was originally known as "MSN Messenger Service," and was later shortened to simply "MSN Messenger. " Today, the underlying technology is known as ".NET Messenger Service," while the program used to access the service is called "Windows Live Messenger. Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger " Regardless, the term "MSN" has come to be synonymous with the messenger service in Internet slang. Internet slang, Internet language, Netspeak, Chatspeak, Leetspeak, Chat Room Shorthand, Computer Language, As of 2008, the messenger service has more than 225 million users. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Affiliated services

Cross-branded services

Microsoft has collaborated with many other service providers, as well as other Microsoft departments to expand the range of MSN's services. Some examples include Microsoft adCenter, MSN Shopping (affiliated with eBay, PriceGrabber and Shopping.com), and the MSN Encarta encyclopedia with various levels of access to information. Microsoft adCenter (formerly MSN adCenter) is the division of the Microsoft Network (MSN responsible for MSN's advertising services MSN Shopping is a part of the MSN web portalMSN Shopping today is an online comparison shopping site in competition with Yahoo. eBay Inc is an American Internet company that manages eBaycom an Online auction and shopping Website in which people and businesses buy and Shoppingcom is a Price comparison service. Shoppingcom used to be called DealTime Encarta is a Digital Multimedia Encyclopedia published by Microsoft Corporation. In addition, MSN Internet Access subscribers have also received MSN Firewall and MSN Virus Guard provided by McAfee, and the Webroot Spy Sweeper for MSN. McAfee Inc ( is an Antivirus software and Computer security company headquartered in Santa Clara California. Spy Sweeper is Proprietary software sold by Webroot Software, which detects and removes Spyware, and Viruses (with optional AntiVirus component These services are similar to those offered by other Internet service providers.

International services

Globally, MSN has good reception, partnering with local TV stations and telecommunications companies to provide service in some areas. In Canada, MSN has partnered with Bell Sympatico (the ISP division of Bell Canada). Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page An Internet service provider ( ISP, also called Internet access provider or IAP) is a company which primarily offers their customers access to the Internet Bell Canada, commonly shortened to "Bell" is a major Canadian Telecommunications company In Australia, the Nine Network has partnered with MSN to create "ninemsn. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney ninemsn is an Australian 50/50 joint venture between Microsoft and PBL Media. " An affiliation with Xtra, Telecom New Zealand's Internet provider ended in 2006 (see XtraMSN). Xtra Limited (trading as Xtra) is New Zealand's largest Internet service provider, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom New Zealand. Telecom New Zealand () is a Wellington, New Zealand -based Telephone company and through its subdivision Xtra, an Internet service Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. XtraMSN was the name of a Internet portal jointly run by the New Zealand Internet service provider Xtra and Microsoft 's ^[6]

MSN has many offices worldwide for customer support. It utilizes the service of call centers around the world. Among the countries are Philippines (technical and customer service), El Salvador (Spanish - technical and customer support), and India (customer service). Currently, MSN sees the Philippines as having the most competitive customer support for customers, awarding Philippine BPOs the "MSN Universal Project," which agents support combined technical, customer service, and billing support.

In 2007, Microsoft set up a research and development center for MSN services in Shanghai, China. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National It will be the company's first center of such kind situated outside of the United States. Being based in Shanghai's Zizhu Science Park, the research and development center will develop Internet software. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Its set up is estimated at $20 million. Microsoft, in the new center, will have a technical support team for its MSN service. In the future, the company hopes MSN Messenger will play an important role in everyday life of Chinese teenagers and young professionals. Several setbacks caused Microsoft to create its own facility for MSN service. One of such setback is the resignation of Luo Chuan, who headed the Windows Live unit in China and who was also responsible for Chinese MSN portal. Windows Live services Live Search See also Live Search As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments ^[7]

See also

• List of MSN services
• List of search engines
• Microsoft
• Microsoft Windows
• Windows 95
• Internet Explorer
• Windows Live
• .NET Messenger Service
• MSN Messenger
• Windows Live Messenger
• Hotmail
• MSN Search
• MSN Chat
• MSN Groups
• MSN Video
• MSN Soapbox
• MSNBC
• ninemsn

References

External links

• MSN.com
• Microsoft Online Services
• Windows Live
• Online Msn Services
• MSN Worldwide