Microsoft's "Live"

From "Any Big Revolution On the Net Will Be Televised by Microsoft," The Wall Street Journal, November 9, 2005

Microsoft's new software is designed for use in the upcoming New Internet, or "Web 2.0," as some call it. The new Web is not here yet. With the new version of the Web, you will run programs on the Internet that you now run on your home computer. Microsoft is jumping in on the game and competing with Google's Gmail, Google Maps and other competitors. The idea of running personalized programs on the Web is counter to Microsoft's Office and Windows, that run from computers.

Last week, Microsoft unveiled its "Live" collection of services and software in San Francisco. Live is still in the early stage of development. Live's free version will be supported by advertising. If you do not want to see advertisements, then you will have to pay to keep them off your screen.

In case advertisement does not make big profits, or if the Live does not do well, Microsoft has Office and Windows to rely on.