Microsoft turns Windows Live into a social network

From Computerworld:

Microsoft this week unveiled a slew of new online services that essentially transforms its Windows Live site into a social network.

The changes, which include updated photo sharing, e-mail and instant messaging capabilities, have received mostly positive reviews from Web 2.0 industry observers.

Microsoft also announced that it is integrating activities from some 50 companies and Web 2.0 services -- including Yahoo Inc.'s Flickr photo-sharing service, LinkedIn Corp., Photobucket Inc., Twitter and WordPress.org -- into the site through new Windows Live profiles and a news feed.

I have no sense of what impact this will have on the social networking community, do you?

Comments

[Ahmer Zaidi]

I don't think windows live will have much impact on the social network communities. In my opinion, Microsoft is late for the game. It cannot offer something extraordinary compared to what Facebook and MySpace already offer.

Windows live sounds like a typical Microsoft service; a mash up of other services with a Red, Blue, Green and Yellow logo above it.

Sounds to me, that once again, Mirco$oft wants to be the center of attention of social networking communities.

[Rajeev Kumar]

Agreed. Microsoft is late in the game…as always... BUT... there's something to be said about their intentions to partner up and integrate with others like Flickr, Linkedin and Twitter. They are definitely entrenching themselves in the social networking community, not to be the center of attention, but to be the “protective” big bother of the fledgling social networking community from the other big brother out there- Google

I've said this before about Microsoft... They are not innovators; they just have savvy business acumen.

[Matt Sorin]

Absolutely none. But its Microsoft and they are really searching for a hit. From my point of view they have not really done anything innovative for about a decade. They remind me of the auto industry when all of the foreign companies from Asia started doing what they were doing, only better. As I have mentioned before. I am really interested in figuring out how to use social networking in a business environment. To me this is something that Microsoft should focus on. They have the existing relationships and they can easily integrate it with all of the MS applications that are used today, including Office and email. If they start to do some of that, then I think it would really take off.

[Lita Scott]

I beleive Microsoft's social network will have no impact to the community. As stated in previous blogs they are late coming to the game. My view is Microsoft want to have a presence in as many spaces as possible...its all about the revenue for them. There are those loyal Microsoft users who may subscribe to their social networking service but, again there is no impact to the other player in the game

[Lita Scott]

I don't think Microsoft's social networking will have any impact in that space. As stated in an earlier post they are late coming to the game with no new offering or features. I think there are those loyal Microsoft users that may subscribe to the social networking service but again they are not impacting that space.

[Lita Scott]

Really Microsoft is all about the revenue and creating a presence in as many spaces as possible. Don't get me wrong, Microsoft offers a outstanding suite of tools but this social networking apperance is all about the revenue

[Kolawole Olatunbosun]

I do not subscribe to the notion that Microsoft is late in the game. It’s better late than never. Technology is about innovation and presence. As long as Microsoft can add new features and flavor to its fusion, it should remain competitive. The judgment as to whether the contribution would be relevant to that space or not, should be left for the users to decide. Microsoft is in business to make money and so must do everything to sustain its leadership. That’s how to play the game and not watch the game. The social networking communities are rapidly gaining acceptance and Microsoft does not want to be left behind in the scheme of things. I think turning Window Live into a social network is smart business move.

[Ahmad Noordin]

I agree with some of the others who have commented on this. Microsoft is again behind the curve. They seem to have a strategy where they do not want to take risk with being the first ones to come out with something. They want to wait and see what others come out with and then use lessons learned from those to come out with their product (ex: Xbox 360, Zune, etc). It makes business sense but perhaps not in this new world where the market is driven by a tech-savvy, globally residing audience that is ahead of the market itself. Let's see what happens.

Ahmad Noordin

[Saumin patel]

Microsoft has good tools and also a file manager where you can manage your files online. As for the social networking I think they are a little late, But they might end up connecting several other online social communities together with few other enhancements which might work for them.
The key would be in the enhancements they introduce besides being an online social community.

[Tara V at Depaul]

I don't see this making a large impact on the social networking community. It will significantly improve the value for those already using hotmail and Microsoft Live and keep them from changing to a different service. It may become more competitive for those late comers to the social networking circle. It won't be enough for those already utilizing other tools to make a change.

I tend to agree with the comment that it is "better late than never" as social networking applications are far from mature. Microsoft needed something to join and keep in the game but there is still alot of room for improvement and there are still a significant number of people out there that are just becoming interested in the social networking web 2.0 apps.

I see Microsoft Live being very attractive to the baby boomers who are apprehensive of some of the "new names" but may suddenly have a new interest in social networking coming from a brand they know.

[Jim Gross]

I agree with the majority of the posters here that Microsoft is a little late bringing their solution to the game, however, it is Microsoft coming to the plate now. They have deep pockets and will be able to make the necessary expenditures they need to in order to be competivtive in this arena. I am still not sold on Microsoft running mission critical apps other than exchange, however, in end user computing tools, they seem to fair somewhat ok. I agree with Tara that their audience may be the older generation of internet/pc users who would turn to their trusted name for delving into the social network space. I personaly do not see this phase of Microsoft's approach working all that well and that may be to a bias I have as I tend to favor more of an enterprise systems approach (UNIX, Integrity Systems, etc.)

I am just not sold on Microsoft's reliability - how often have you faced the blue screen of death....unless you have an enormous clustered server environment, how well can you really trust your systems running in Microsoft's products - will this too fall into that category...don't know yet, but I probalby won't stick around to find out and am not sure many others will either.

[Nimmy Kurian]

I agree with Matt's comment that if Microsoft were to provide collaborative and social networking features among its various office applications then it would really kick off. Despite the blue screen of death, more than 90% of businesses use Windows based office applications in some shape or form. So there is a bigger potential for revenue there since most companies will be willing to pay the extra cost and upgrade for a more collaborative office application.

Also in my opinion, it is a good thing that Microsoft is coming into the social networking scene since it will boost innovation and creativity among existing providers to remain competitive. The more the competitors ,better the product quality is likely to be.

[Alla Koulakova]

I also don’t see how Microsoft may impact the social networking community, neither do I think that this was Microsoft’s intention of entering this market. By introducing their product they have not contributed new innovative features to social networking , therefore, I see it as just a strategic marketing move to reinforce brand awareness and stay on their toes with competition. They will definitely capture a small share, however, unless Microsoft comes up with unique technology, that may attract / encourage businesses to utilize their product, I don’t see how Microsoft may grow its popularity within the social networking community.

[Ruth Hong]

I agree with Kolawole. It's definitely a strategic move that may not be necessarily too late. While it may not have a large impact in the social networking community as others have commented, it's a way for Microsoft to remain competitive. This should pave the way for innovations at Microsoft. Remember, Microsoft does have a stake in one of the leading social networking sites, Facebook. It gives us insight that Microsoft is aware of the social networking phenomenon.

As it was mentioned in our class last week, not many services out there are mega-social networking sites. It looks like Microsoft is trying to enter that space. Whether or not this is successful is if the social networking space is leaning towards a mega-platform or if it remains as it is with bits and separate sites.

[Ross McDonald]

I would appear to me that Microsoft is making a mad dash for revenue streams. But, as they have been doing for the last number of years, they are playing catch-up rather then leading the way.

Where do you think this will lead if the purchase of Yahoo is completed? It could lead Microsoft to the Promised Land!!?

[Rhaquel Valencia]

Experiencing with Microsoft tools is always disappointing. I'm always reluctant to base my social networks in Microsoft tools. They used to have nice features, and you become comfortable and happy with them and suddenly they force you to change versions and usually not any better than the ones you were using. I not only feel like this with Office but also with MSN messenger and hotmail. MSN has what Microsoft calls MSN spaces, similar to social networking like Facebook, but I'm sure that nobody really uses the feature as everyone uses Facebook. I dont feel the need of using some of Microsoft's social networking tools when there are more user focused tools. It obviously seems like a way to enter into the social network arena as a business than to create innovative spaces to benefit the users.

[Jay Leffue]

Typical for Microsoft. Use the ideas of others, like Windows 7....that will look like Mac OS of 4 years ago. Yes, they are late on scene, and I agree I wouldn't use it....except, they have the ability to use it like no other in integration with what else they do. For instance, you can have windows mobile now on cell phones. You can have an Xbox at home. You can have hotmail. I know they have tons of other products. If they can integrate all this online with one user login it could be very powerful. You could pull up your pictures on your phone with windows mobile. You could see your gamertags, or download games to your XBox through the site.

Of course, this is assuming that Microsoft's big plan is full integration, and thats their history. As in Microsoft Servers have to run .net. If they use Windows Live as a way to tie their many products together, then its a powerful device. If its just for social networking, I'll pass.

[Christina Lara-Fernandez]

Microsoft CTO Ray Ozzie mentioned in the release launch the “openness” and encouraging “conversation” in outlining the services strategy. Microsoft was not invented as web based application like is competitors such as Zoho or Google. It should not try to leverage off these types of office suites, it should stick to its (sufficient) reliable application.

[Rick-teachers assistant]

Ok so most of you agree with the fact that Microsoft is behind the curve. However I have to say the MS is still the leader industry wide with their other products. And maybe we will see the benefit of this product as well take off in soem form or fashion. Call me crazy but the product is robust and has a lot of options that some of the other programs can offer without the headache of the download gone bad syndrome.

[Konrad Klimek]

Well I look at it as Microsoft trying to do something towards the social networking trend and that is nothing wrong with that. Social networks are here to stay and millions of users utilize them with thousands of new users creating their profiles everyday. However, with this in mind and there is always a new social network in development, the key is innovation. Microsoft needs to have something that the other social networks do not have and that will draw new people that may have accounts in Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

[Zoaib Mirza]

I think Microsoft should have come up with these new gadgets earlier. People have already shifted towards other social networking tools. Review http://business.rapleaf.com/company_press_2007_11_12.html for details.

I guess they have to come up with some really amazing product, and the marketing should be well planned to pull users towards their products.

[Matt Smallbone]

Social Networks are most definitely going to have an evolving presence. Microsoft has identified this avenue into the future, and though their initial offering is similar to whats already out there, it is a means to an innovative future. Or at least a means of being a part of an innovative future. At this point Microsoft does not need to apologize for not being at the fore front of innovation, because in most circumstances they can buy out the company who is.

If you recall the class project presentation on "social networking" a enterprise social network was highlighted called NewsGator Social Sites 2.0. This enterprise social network functions on top of the Microsoft Sharepoint Server. Why wouldn't Microsoft create their own feature to run on top of their own existing creation? Perhaps its because companies such as NewsGator enhance Microsoft products with no cost to Microsoft.

[Daniel Thompson]

The thing about Microsoft is that they are rarely, if ever, the industry leader. What they are REALLY good at is figuring out what, of all of the offerings out there, is going to work. Then they buy them, or create something similar to it. They have the resources to try and fail at things that other companies do not.

I personally think Microsoft is pretty big brother on a general basis; however, from their perspective I must say that I really like this move.

There are 2 reasons for this. One relates to the Nintendo Wii. That truism is that you have to appeal to the masses. This is why the Wii is much better recieved than the Xbox360 or PS3. They catered to the 80 % of the people out there who are not early adopters.

The second is that the general populace is inherently... not lazy ... but they look for the easy way, the road more traveled if you will. And regardless of how crappy the interface is, if you can combine all of those sites into 1 interface, its a win for all of those people who want to have their entire online persona at their fingertips.

The other point is that this has implications for businesses as well. Remember, many many companies use Office. If they integrate a company Facebook page with a company Flickr photostream, et al, and then place it within easy reach for all employees in Outlook, that is something that can greatly help morale, togetherness, and shared vision.

[Jason Akai]

Honestly, the number of people who still use hotmail seems to have dwindled so far down that it might just be those who have to have accounts, or those who signed up 10 years ago and haven't really done anything with it since. The impact can't be great because Windows Live Mail/Hotmail isn't really relavent anymore. Microsoft needed Yahoo. it turns out, not the other way around.

Yahoo and Google are the leaders in the cloud email arena, and already integrate well into other apps. My only concern is a single cloud sign on is easy, but also easier for holes to appear to steal accounts.

[Scott Timmerman]

Microsoft may be the industry leader with their line of software products, but they have nothing in terms of online services that compare to other companies that produce sites like facebook, linkedin, google service such as google docs, etc. Nothing revolutionary has come from Microsoft in terms of online services and I don't think the future holds anything new. I agree with Jason in the point that a lot of people have switched from hotmail to other services such as gmail or yahoo. Microsoft would gain more popularity if it offered a "free" version of its Office suite that was completely available online and integrated with their mail services.