MSN Update Unveiled
Microsoft begins testing two-tiered service, with lures for broadband users.Tom Spring, PCWorld.com
Microsoft is beginning beta testing an update to its MSN Internet access service that offers a Premium tier with better pop-up ad blocking, advanced e-mail access, new photo-sharing tools, and other security functions, all particularly tuned to broadband customers.
You'll have to wait to try it, however. Microsoft is confining its test to several thousand selected users rather than taking the "open beta" approach of Office 2003. MSN Premium and MSN Plus, a less expensive level also being tested, are expected to ship in winter. That somewhat vague date doesn't preclude release by the end of the year, though, according to Microsoft representatives.
Boosting Broadband
MSN Premium and MSN Plus both target broadband users who access MSN through any ISP. Existing subscribers of the MSN 8 dial-up access service, updated last October, will be able to access some features of the MSN Premium service when it becomes available, according to Microsoft.
The new MSN client includes a souped-up version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, e-mail and instant messaging software, and a suite of desktop-centric applications.
"It has a very IE-like environment," says Lisa Gurry, an MSN product manager. She notes that users can tailor the settings to be more streamlined, or can apply a selection of icons that are more suited to a consumer interface.
Pricing for MSN Premium is $9.95 monthly, the same as the current rate. Microsoft says the software is geared toward families, and allows for up to ten user accounts with a single membership. Rates for MSN Plus are not yet announced, but will be less, according to Microsoft. The Plus offering supports only one account with fewer bells and whistles.
New in MSN
Highlights of both the Premium and Plus versions include functions to control some annoyances of life online, such as pop-up advertising and spam, Gurry says.
Under Pop-up Guard, subscribers can choose among several degrees of blocking. One level lets you choose to block ads based on typical user preferences as aggregated by Microsoft.
The software provides e-mail virus scanning and cleaning functions and better junk mail filters, Gurry says. Customers of the Premium service will be able to take advantage of new desktop antivirus and firewall protection services, as well as advanced parental controls.
Microsoft has focused much of its attention on e-mail improvements, which include a new feature called Outlook Connector. It works only with Microsoft's upcoming Outlook 2003 e-mail and communications software, but provides a single access point to your MSN e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes. Users can also access any POP3 e-mail through the same interface, and can get to their Hotmail accounts--but not to other Web-based mail.
The feature will be useful for MSN customers who want to access their MSN account on a PC that doesn't have the MSN software installed on it.
Updates to MSN's information management software are less obvious, and include improvements to the MSN Dashboard. The movable Dashboard, which appears with the browser, can now contain a slide show of personal images. Through it, you can review a history of MSN Alerts and access more online Microsoft.Net services, such as local traffic updates.
Also, only Premium customers will be able to access some online services, including Money Plus, Encarta Plus, and PictureIt Express 9 editing and photo management software. The PictureIt service provides a number of photo-sharing functions, including one feature that compresses photos for easier transmission in an e-mail message.
Service Priorities Shift
Microsoft is announcing details of the new MSN services just as EarthLink unveils its Total Access 2004 software suite. The MSN announcement also comes on the heels of rival AOL's updating its Internet service and software.
With the continuing adoption of broadband, both MSN and AOL are seeing some drop in dial-up customers. Those services and others are focusing their attention on premium software and content that can be marketed to any Internet users.
MSN's approach was forecast by at least one analyst. Steve Harris of IDG says Microsoft is turning away from selling Internet access and instead positioning MSN as a source of Internet services and software for all buyers, regardless of how they get online. Harris says it's a necessary approach to stay competitive with the much larger leader, America Online.
Microsoft claims MSN has 8.6 million subscribers, including its Internet access service, Hotmail premium services, and MSN mobile services. AOL has an estimated 25.4 million subscribers.