This chart lists in alphabetical order some examples of hosted services
that Microsoft has launched or proposed and describes their current status.
| Service |
Description |
Status |
| bCentral |
Information and services for small businesses |
Financial management, Web site
design/management services discontinued in late 2001. Other services still available. |
| Expedia |
Online travel agency |
Sold to USA Interactive in Mar. 2002. |
| Hotmail |
Web-based e-mail |
Some formerly free features now part of
fee-based Hotmail Extra Storage. |
| MapPoint.NET |
Mapping service for ISVs and Web sites |
Launched in Mar. 2002. |
| MSN.com |
Consumer-oriented news, entertainment, and
other Web sites |
No major Web site updates planned for 2002. |
| MSN Internet Access |
Consumer ISP |
Reducing customer acquisition costs by
eliminating expensive promotions. Pursuing ISP partnerships (Verizon, Qwest) to provide
broadband service. |
| MSN Messenger |
Instant messaging |
No major changes announced. |
| MSN Wallet |
Post e-commerce information without retyping. |
Will launch Nov. 2002 with fewer partners than
Passport Express Purchase (which it replaces). |
| .NET Alerts |
Notifications |
Originally part of .NET My Services. Launched
as standalone service in fall 2001. |
| .NET Business Network |
Business-to-business e-commerce and document
sharing network |
Will launch by early 2003. |
| .NET My Services |
Proposed services for user-data storage,
notification, and authentication |
User-data storage services on hold. Microsoft
will sell packaged software to allow third parties to host their own user-data storage
services. Notification (.NET Alerts) and authentication (Passport Single Sign-In) services
active. |
| Passport Express Purchase |
Post e-commerce information without retyping |
Will be discontinued in Mar. 2003. |
| Passport Single Sign-In |
User authentication for Web sites and Internet
services |
Privacy and user interface improvements
announced. |
| TransPoint |
Electronic bill management and payment |
Sold to Checkfree shortly after launch in Feb.
2000. |
| Ultimate TV |
Digital video recording for DirecTV satellite
TV subscribers |
Group restructured, one-quarter of staff laid
off in Jan. 2002. |
| Visio Net Center (VNC) |
Provides new network shapes to Visio users |
Visio Enterprise Network Tools, only product
that came with VNC subscription, discontinued in Aug. 2002. |
| WebTV/MSNTV |
Internet-on-TV |
Group restructured, moved to MSN in mid-2001. |
| Xbox Live |
Console gaming network |
Will launch Nov. 15, 2002. |
