BIOS: Technology Means Business

Microsoft has started to shout about its two new Internet-based software services - Windows Live and Microsoft Office Live - designed to deliver rich and seamless experiences to individuals and small businesses. The new offerings are pitched as compelling enhancements to Microsoft's Windows and Office products. In particular, Windows Live will help bring together all the elements of an individual's digital world while Office Live claims to help small companies do business online.

At a briefing for members of the press and analysts, Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect, and Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief technical officer, demonstrated these new offerings for the first time, along with Xbox Live - all of which reflect the company's ongoing efforts to harness new delivery and business models for software. 'These new offerings demonstrate how software is evolving through the power of services in ways that enable more dynamic and relevant experiences for people,' Gates said. 'Our goal is to make Windows, Office and Xbox further come alive for our customers at work, home and play.'

'Our dream is to deliver a seamless experience where all the technology in your life and business comes together in a way that 'just works' for you,' said Ozzie. 'Seamless experiences put people and the things they want to accomplish at the centre, with technology easily and transparently connecting them to the people, devices and information that matter most. Windows Live is a set of personal Internet services and software designed to bring together in one place all of the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with more safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. Microsoft demonstrated early versions of several new Windows Live offerings, some of which are accessible at http://ideas.live.com, a new Web site where you can try the latest Windows Live beta services.

Live.com serves as the personalised starting point for Windows Live services, powered by technologies such as RSS and Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). Live.com offers choice and customisation for individuals who want quick access to the people and information they care about most. Windows Live Mail is a new, global Web e-mail service, built from the ground up to be faster, safer and simpler. Existing MSN Hotmail users will be able to upgrade to the new service.

Windows Live Messenger is designed to help individuals deepen their connections with the people they care about through instant messaging, file and photo sharing, PC-based calling, and more. Windows Live Messenger will enter the beta stage later this year. Windows Live Safety Center is a Web site where users can scan for and remove viruses from their PC on demand. Windows OneCare Live is a previously announced PC health subscription that helps protect and maintain PCs via an integrated service that includes anti-virus, firewall, PC maintenance, and data backup and restore capability.

Windows Live Favorites is a service that enables individuals to access their Microsoft Internet Explorer and MSN Explorer favourites from any PC that's online. Windows Live will be offered alongside MSN.com amd will primarily be delivered free to users and supported by advertising, but subscription and transaction-based services also will be available.

The company also previewed Office Live, a new set of Internet-based services for growing and managing a business online. Designed to help companies establish an online presence, automate key internal and external business tasks, and collaborate with employees, partners and customers, the initial Office Live offerings are targeted at the approximately 28 million small businesses worldwide that have fewer than 10 employees.

These services can be used independently but also integrate with Microsoft's Office programs, including Outlook, Excel, Office Live Meeting and Office Small Business Edition. Over time, the scope of Office Live services will expand. Built on Windows SharePoint Services, these applications can be customised and extended to specific customer needs by an extensive Microsoft partner ecosystem. Office Live services initially will be released via an invitation-only beta in the US in early 2006. Small-business customers can sign up at http://www.officelive.com.

There are multiple Office Live offerings. Office Live Basics helps a small business establish an online Internet presence including a domain name, a Web site with 30MB of storage and five Web e-mail accounts at no charge through an advertising-supported model. Office Live also provides a set of subscription-based services with more than 20 business applications to help automate daily business tasks such as project management, sales and collateral management, customer management, expense reports, time and billing management, and secure internal and external collaboration.