Many of Windows Live's services are derivative and few have a lot of users.
Bebo has scored the involvement of big brands, like Microsoft Windows Live and Disney.
Players will be able to sign into the new hub using their Facebook or Windows Live accounts.
The Windows Live demo featured an events invite module that looked a lot like Evite circa 2002.
Google has had an interactive, shared online calendar like the one in Windows Live since April 2006.
She will be responsible for all product development for Windows and Windows Live, in addition to Surface.
FORBES: Microsoft Shocker: Windows President Steven Sinofsky Out (Updated)
The Windows Live Messenger instant messaging program was known as MSN Messenger when it first launched in 1999.
Microsoft is currently in the process of migrating users from its Windows Live Messenger product to the service.
He says there are about 1, 400-1, 500 software design engineers working on Windows and Windows Live, and Internet Explorer.
FORBES: D9: From Microsoft Windows Pres Sinofsky, A Look At Windows 8
He is responsible for the marketing, sales and business development of Microsoft's online services, including MSN.com and Windows Live.
It also provides a central place from which to post updates to Facebook and Windows Live in one step.
ENGADGET: Windows Phone 7 Series is official, and Microsoft is playing to win
He announced the new Windows Live Essentials, a set of repackaged online applications, including Messenger, Mail and Photo Gallery.
Microsoft said Windows Live Messenger (WLM) would be turned off by March 2013 worldwide, with the exception of China.
Microsoft officials say it will leverage its existing developer network, plus the mashup newbies, with its forthcoming Windows Live product.
Recently, Microsoft said that it will shut down some services, including Windows Live Expo, a listing service for classified advertisements.
Recently, it made changes to the Services Agreement governing Hotmail, SkyDrive, Bing, Windows Live Messenger and other online services.
FORBES: Microsoft Takes Advantage Of Supreme Court's Limitations Of Class Actions
But Windows Live director of product management Dharmesh Mehta denied that it was, seeing it as more of a partnership.
FORBES: Microsoft Axes Windows Live Blogs, Partners With WordPress
Unlike the giants, Dharmaraj believes Microsoft could still dominate the platform when it comes out with its Windows Live effort this year.
Microsoft is making mashups a key feature of its Windows Live services.
The activity streams standard has already been adopted by MySpace, Windows Live, Google Buzz, BBC, Opera, TypePad, Gowalla, Gnip and many others.
FORBES: IBM's Strategy to Manufacture Social Networking Surprises
Microsoft is switching off its Windows Live Messenger service on 15 March.
On Monday, a poll of more than 2, 000 young people by charity Beatbullying found that 57% had been harassed online using Windows Live Messenger.
Prior to Yahoo, he spent 15 years at Microsoft, serving in various senior roles, most recently as Corporate Vice President of the Windows Live Platform.
ENGADGET: Go Daddy hires former Microsoft and Yahoo exec Blake Irving as next CEO
Version 1.5 of Windows Live OneCare was co-launched with Vista and uses the same scanning "engine" as the security tools bundled with the operating system.
Third, as far as consumers are concerned, Microsoft can bring product integration and create lots of cross-selling and up-selling opportunities for Windows Live users and Skype users.
FORBES: Microsoft: With Skype, A Good Use For The Giant Overseas Cash Pile
Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) has had an interactive, shared online calendar like the one in Windows Live since April 2006.
As announced last November, Microsoft has been planning to discontinue Windows Live Messenger in 2013, moving all users over to Skype sometime in Q1 of this year.
FORBES: Microsoft Confirms Messenger Will Shut Down On March 15
Unlike Windows Live Messenger, Skype is a freemium model (and not ad-based), which in addition to simply consolidating the services is likely part of this strategy for Microsoft.
FORBES: Confirmed: Microsoft To Kill Windows Live Messenger in 2013
Did you know Windows Live had its own blogging platform?
FORBES: Microsoft Axes Windows Live Blogs, Partners With WordPress
应用推荐