An Overview of Microsoft Network

The Microsoft Network now referred to as MSN, is the compilation of services and internet sites offered by Microsoft. The service was first introduced along the debut of Windows 95 OS in late August, 1995, as an internet service provider and online service.

The variety of services provided by MSN has improved since its debut. MSN was an experimental interactive multimedia content service online and an uncomplicated internet service for new Windows 95. It has since advanced and brought about invention of other services but still remains among the top popular dial-up ISPs.

In the late 90s, Microsoft used MSN brand to promote many other famous web-based services. Among these promoted brands, the most outstanding was Messenger and Hotmail, which were later in 2005 re-branded to MSN’s Internet portal and Windows Live. MSN.com is currently the ninth most visited site and still offers a rich content.

The principles used in the creation of MSN were designed by Microsoft’s Advanced Technology Group in the Leadership of Nathan Myhrvold. The service was initially invented to be like American Online, a dial-up content provider in the internet to supply proprietary content via artificial folder-like interfaces incorporated into the file management program of Windows Explorer in Windows 95. The categories on MSN resembled folders are file systems. This is the concept that has been used in the creation of many other internet services by different providers.

Officially referred to as The Microsoft Network, this service was released besides the debut of Windows 95 and thus was created to be compatible with Windows 95 with all the necessary installations being included. It was designed to work with this particular Windows and other software from Microsoft that was also released at that time. Product discussion and support as well as other general but important information like email capabilities, message boards, chat rooms, news and weather were provided via the MSN service.

Other services also referred to as MSN:

Hotmail

This is a free web-based Microsoft built email service. It was initially started independently in 1996 but was finally absorbed and became part of MSN in 1997 and has since 2006 been part of Windows Live group by Microsoft. Hotmail has gained massive popularity all over the world with a staggering 380 million computer users having registered for their services. It is used widely that has been translated into thirty five different languages for ease of different people.

MSN Messenger

In 1999, MSN released Messenger so as to compete with the existing AOL instant messenger, initially referred to as MSN messenger service which was afterwards shortened to MSN messenger.

MSN Explorer

This is a type of a browser that combines Hotmail and Messenger to make an internet access program that has all the qualities of both. The explorer 1.1 by MSN initially was included with the Windows Whistler created 2410. This basically shows that the technology we are using in the internet has been in evolution ever since it was introduced.