Windows

Windows Live
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Windows Live Windows Live logo.svg
Screenshot of Windows Live Home
Screenshot of Windows Live Home, which serves as a central location to access all Windows Live services
URL www.live.com
Commercial? No
Type of site Software plus services
(Web applications)
Registration Required
Users 330 millionContent license Proprietary
Owner Microsoft
Created by Microsoft
Launched November 1, 2005 (2005-11-01)
Alexa rank increase 7 (as of May 2012[update])[1]
Current status Online

Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible froma browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require installation. There are three ways in which Windows Live services are offered: Windows Live Essentials applications, web services, and mobile services.[2]

Microsoft said that Windows Live "is a way to extend the Windows user experience".[3] Windows Vista provides a link in its user interface to download Windows LiveMessenger, and Windows 7 saw the removal of applications such as Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker and replaced with the Windows Live Essentials suite, a software package that allows the downloading and installation of similar offerings from Windows Live.[4] Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will see Windows Live apps included right out of the box, and will include built-insynchronization technologies powered by SkyDrive.[5]

Besides Windows Live, which is mainly aimed at individuals,[6] there are some other Web properties from Microsoft that are branded as "Live": Xbox LIVE multiplayer gaming and content delivery system for Xbox and Xbox 360, and the Games for Windows - LIVE multiplayer gaming service for Microsoft Windows. Another "Live" service, Office Live,was converged into Windows Live during the Wave 4 update, when Microsoft merged the Office Live into the Windows Live team back in January 2009.[7]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
* 2 Services
o 2.1 Online services
o 2.2 Software applications
o 2.3 Mobile services
+ 2.3.1 Windows Phone
+ 2.3.2 iOS
+ 2.3.3Feature phone
o 2.4 Search services
o 2.5 Developer services
* 3 Discontinued products and services
* 4 Windows Live Butterfly
* 5 User interface
o 5.1 Blue Vapor/Flair
o 5.2 Wave 2
o 5.3 Wave 3
o 5.4 Wave 4
o 5.5 Wave 5
* 6 Service rename
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links[edit] History

Windows Live was first announced on November 1, 2005. In its initial release, several Windows Live properties were rebranded and enhanced from Microsoft's MSN set of products and services. However, MSN still exists alongside Windows Live as a means of delivering content. (as opposed to customized content and communications.).[6] In May 2012 Microsoft began renaming WindowsLive services, partly in anticipation of Windows 8, which will integrate many of the Windows Live products and services into the operating system.[8]
[edit] Services
[edit] Online services
Service Description Status
Admin Center Provides e-mail hosting for web site owners Final
Calendar Time management service that allow users to organize appointments, schedule meetings, set reminders, andshare their calendar events Final
Contacts The contact book service, which allows users to keep track and synchronize their contact's information Final
Devices An online device management service that will allow users to centrally access and manage the synchronisation of files stored on their computers and mobile devices. Windows Live Devices will also allow users to remotely access their...