Microsoft have today announced they are making the leap into the world of social networking as they overhaul their Live.com portal. The search engine will now perform a variety of interactive functions, such as Windows Live Photos, and Windows Live People.
These functions are an amalgamation of a number of services Microsoft already offer, such as Messenger and Hotmail, and will be combining these onto one streamlined product. Users will automatically be connected with friends already present on their Windows Live Messenger account, currently consisting of 268 million users, compared with just 6 million Google Talk members. This will give Microsoft an automatic head start on other start up social networking sites due to the vast user base at their finger tips.
Users will be prompted to generate a profile of personal information, and have the option to incorporate an array of features onto their personal page, such as a variety of different blog feeds and photo hosting services. Any updates on their personal profiles will be available to their partners (MSN say this could be up to 50 different companies) and shown across Live.com to their friends.
The principle aim of this move is to increase user activity in the Live.com portal. Their user base from Messenger should allow them to make great progress in generating interest in their product in a very competitive market. A unique selling point may be the only way to tempt users away from a host of established social networking sites.