MSN for Mac OS X Planned

Mac OS X users will be able to get MSN Internet Access and new MSN client software with features such as parental controls and spam filtering beginning in early 2003. The move supports Microsoft’s partnerships with broadband ISPs and could also attract new users to the service.

Currently, Mac users can only get MSN Internet Access (MSNIA) if they are on older operating systems and if they sign up through MSN partner Qwest, which offers ISP access in 14 western states. These users receive a simple dial-in client and must use separate software for tasks such as surfing the Web and handling e-mail.

This will change in early 2003, when any Mac OS X user in the United States will be able to get MSNIA. These users will receive new client software, MSN for OS X, containing an integrated e-mail client based on Entourage (Microsoft’s native e-mail client for OS X); a Web browser based on Internet Explorer 5.2 for Mac and featuring built-in links to various MSN and partner sites; and some of the features also slated for the forthcoming MSN 8 client for Windows users, such as parental controls over children’s Internet activities and improved spam filtering. MSNIA is also adding online and phone support for Mac users.