Microsoft to offer single download for Windows Live suite

Microsoft will offer a Windows Live "installer" that will download and install software to access multiple online services, said Kevin Johnson, the president of Microsoft's Platform and Services Division.

During his presentation at Microsoft's Financial Analysts Day on Thursday, Johnson mentioned the Windows Live installer, saying that the company would begin beta testing it this summer.

He described it as a single download that will let consumers connect to multiple Live-branded hosted services, such as e-mail and messaging. People will be able to access these services from different devices, including PCs and phones, he said.

"This unified installation experience is one example of the more integrated experience we'll deliver with the next generation of Windows Live services," Johnson said.

Microsoft last month started beta testing two products that are part of what will be Windows Live suite: Windows Live Photo Gallery, which lets people organize and share photos on a PC and online, and online storage service Windows Live Folders.

In response to a question, Johnson argued that integration of Microsoft's Live services is a key selling point for the company.

[dlmaplethorpe]

One thing at a time

Why can't Microsoft finish one thing at a time, as an IT person I would like to see them put out a SP3 for XP, wouldn't that be a novel idea!! But then again, it it Microsoft, onward and upward!

[dhavleak]

That doens't really make sense..

Why do ppl post so many comments that make absolutely no sense.. especially since they are so over-generalized. Do you honestly think that the skillset for live services overlap with the skillsets for people working on windows? When you realize that the teams are almost certainly completely seperate and independant -- you'll realize that your comment about doing one thing at a time is completely irrelevant.

Also, I keep hearing people say "I'd like to see XP SP3" -- well, what do you want to see in XP SP3? Or do you just want a SP for it's own sake??

Keep in mind: security updates (which we get on patch tuesday every month are one thing) but why do you literally expect a SP with new features etc.? Just because NT4 had 6 SPs (IIRC) doesn't mean XP will as well..

Also, just because MS says they are releasing this beta, doesn't mean they've said "we are never going to release an SP3 for XP"..

[jbuturff]

OK, but . . . .

Please don't FORCE us to download and install all the LIVE tools, make them optional.

[krushyou]

re: one thing at a time

You do realize Live is a seperate entity of MS right?

Ms has several different divisions and not every one of them work on Windows OS.

[sal-magnone]

plus

And doesn't the OS team have a firewall between it and the rest of the company to avoid giving MS advantages over other developers. (This might just be between them and the desktop software folks - it would be interesting to know)

[roger.d.miller]

Argument?

"In response to a question, Johnson argued that integration of Microsoft's Live services is a key selling point for the company."

What was the question and who was he arguing with?

[jelloburn]

Me thinks...

this was a poorly written attempt at explaining Microsoft's strategy
in the release of the Live service suite. Should have left out the
'argued' and just written:

"integration of Microsoft's Live services is a key selling point for the
company."

Would have been a lot easier.

[The_Decider]

Passport by any other name...

nt

[SiXiam]

Why does it sound like it's hard work?

This article makes it sound like microsoft can't even build an installer without major heart-ache and trouble, or is that just me?

[technewsjunkie]

It's 12 gigabytes and requires multiple reboots

Typically.

[rcrusoe]

Download? An online application?

The big selling point of online applications, Google Apps, Zoho, etc. is they are ONLINE and DO NOT REQUIRE installation. Not to mention they are cross platform.

Keep your single download, Microsoft. Once again you are late to the party and inappropriately dressed.