Microsoft unveils online Windows, Office services

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp., the world's largestsoftware maker, on Tuesday unveiled a new initiative to delivermore of its software's features and services over the Internet.

Windows Live and Office Live will give users much of thefunctionality of the software giant's two most-profitableproducts, but without the complexity of installing andmaintaining the software in computer hard drives, MicrosoftChairman and Ray Ozzie, a longtime software servicespioneer who recently joined Microsoft, told reporters in SanFrancisco.

"Our dream is to deliver a seamless experience where allthe technology in your life and business comes together in away that 'just works' for you," Ozzie said in a statement.

Microsoft is facing increasing competition from competitorsthat have built businesses by delivering information andsoftware-based services over the Web such as Google Inc. YahooInc..

Microsoft's MSN Internet division, created nearly a decadeago to compete against AOL, then the dominant player in theInternet space, has up to now led the charge against Yahoo andGoogle.

The new initiative, however, spans across Microsoft's moretraditional Windows and Office businesses and also reflects arecent company-wide reorganization that put MSN under theWindows division and appointed Ozzie, chief technical officer,in charge of Microsoft's efforts to deliver software servicesover the Web.

Windows Live will integrate instant-messaging, a new onlineemail service, security, data storage and other features, allof which will be accessible over the Internet.

Office Live will give smaller companies access to many ofthe features in Microsoft's collection of programs for businesstasks, as well as the ability to maintain corporate emailaccounts and data.

Both Windows Live and Office Live will be supported in partby online advertising, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoftsaid.

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