MSN Paring Some Services

MSN will discontinue its Internet access client for Mac OS X users and has ended its broadcast agreement with Major League Baseball a year earlier than expected. In addition, MSN partner Verizon has signed a deal to bundle MSN competitor Yahoo’s services with broadband access, ending an MSN exclusive.

Mac client. On May 31, 2005, Microsoft will discontinue support for the Mac OS X for MSN client software, which includes an integrated e-mail program, Web browser, parental controls, and other features. The client is currently employed by Mac users who subscribe to MSN Premium, Plus, or dial-up Internet access. After May 31, these users will have to use Apple’s Safari or another Web browser to access their e-mail (via the MSN Hotmail site) and other features, such as content on MSN Encarta. They will no longer be able to use parental controls or the dashboard feature, which provides a snapshot of information from MSN on the customer’s desktop. Dial-up users will have to configure the Mac OS X Internet Connect client to connect to MSN. (Instructions for MSN for Mac OS X users are at www.microsoft.com/mac/products/msnformacosx/msnformacosx.aspx.)