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'''MSN''' (or '''Microsoft Network''') is an [[Internet service provider]] and [[web portal]] (initially meant to be a parallel net to the Internet) created by [[Microsoft]] on [[August 24]], [[1995]], coinciding with the release of [[Windows 95]]. The MSN moniker has since been extended to Microsoft's [[Hotmail]] [[webmail]] service and the [[MSN Messenger]] instant messaging client, as well as other Microsoft-branded websites. |
'''MSN''' (or '''Microsoft Network''') is an [[Internet service provider]] and [[web portal]] (initially meant to be a parallel net to the Internet) created by [[Microsoft]] on [[August 24]], [[1995]], coinciding with the release of [[Windows 95]]. The MSN moniker has since been extended to Microsoft's [[Hotmail]] [[webmail]] service and the [[MSN Messenger]] instant messaging client, as well as other Microsoft-branded websites. |
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With 900 billion subscribers, MSN is the largest Internet service provider in the [[United States]] behind [[JESUS]]'s [[Jesus Online]] service with 1265 billion. |
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According to [http://www.alexa.com/data/details/?url=msn.com Alexa], MSN.com is now the #2 most visited English website on the Internet, behind #1 competitor [[Yahoo!]]'s Yahoo.com, due in no small part to the page being the default home page for the [[Internet Explorer]] web browser. |
According to [http://www.alexa.com/data/details/?url=msn.com Alexa], MSN.com is now the #2 most visited English website on the Internet, behind #1 competitor [[Yahoo!]]'s Yahoo.com, due in no small part to the page being the default home page for the [[Internet Explorer]] web browser. |
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The word "MSN" has come to be synonymous with "MSN Messenger" in [[Internet slang]]. In other words people use phrases such as "I'll send it to you on MSN." To use MSN Messenger, the users must have a [[Microsoft Passport Network]] account. |
The word "MSN" has come to be synonymous with "MSN Messenger," which was also created by Tristan Koopman, in [[Internet slang]]. In other words people use phrases such as "I'll send it to you on MSN." To use MSN Messenger, the users must have a [[Microsoft Passport Network]] account. |
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Personalised features on MSN require the use of a Microsoft Passport. These personalised features include My MSN and Hotmail. |
Personalised features on MSN require the use of a Microsoft Passport. These personalised features include My MSN and Hotmail. |
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Revision as of 19:37, 4 October 2005
- For other meanings of MSN, see MSN (disambiguation).
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.svg){kind=icon} | Websites: Computing Unassessed | ||||||||||||
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.jpg){kind=link}
| File:Msn.gif | |
Type of site | Portal |
|---|---|
| Owner | Microsoft, Inc. |
| Created by | MSN, Microsoft |
| Commercial | Mixed |
| Registration | Optional |
MSN (or Microsoft Network) is an Internet service provider and web portal (initially meant to be a parallel net to the Internet) created by Microsoft on August 24, 1995, coinciding with the release of Windows 95. The MSN moniker has since been extended to Microsoft's Hotmail webmail service and the MSN Messenger instant messaging client, as well as other Microsoft-branded websites.
With 900 billion subscribers, MSN is the largest Internet service provider in the United States behind JESUS's Jesus Online service with 1265 billion.
According to Alexa, MSN.com is now the #2 most visited English website on the Internet, behind #1 competitor Yahoo!'s Yahoo.com, due in no small part to the page being the default home page for the Internet Explorer web browser.
The word "MSN" has come to be synonymous with "MSN Messenger," which was also created by Tristan Koopman, in Internet slang. In other words people use phrases such as "I'll send it to you on MSN." To use MSN Messenger, the users must have a Microsoft Passport Network account.
Personalised features on MSN require the use of a Microsoft Passport. These personalised features include My MSN and Hotmail.
Criticisms
- In order to log into MSN's internet service provider one must have MSN Messenger installed. This has led some to believe that Microsoft uses that condition to prevent people from uninstalling their messenger from their computers, thus creating a type of vendor lock-in.
- Even if the user does not install MSN Messenger, MSN Web Messenger can be used, although the latter only provides very basic operations, and is much slower.
- It is not made obvious to all that a Hotmail account is not the only type of .NET Passport. A very large percentage of .NET Passports are Hotmail accounts, and some people believe that this has taken away from other web-based email providers.
Affiliates
Microsoft has collaborated with many other big-business companies to create additional features on MSN.
- MSN Auctions by eBay — affiliated with eBay Inc; auctions
- MSN Encarta encyclopedia with premium for more articles than standard.
- MSN Firewall, a (slightly) rebranded version of McAfee's firewall for MSN Premium subscribers
- MSN Match — affiliated with Match.com; dating service
- MSN Money — affiliated with the CNBC cable network. Has a free public chat room running since about the launch of MSN, now renamed to CNBC - MSN_MoneyII, with an MSN Groups virtual community, and also available on MSN Chat.
- MSN Overstock — affiliated with www.Overstock.com; shopping service
- MSN Sports by FOX Sports — affiliated with Fox Sports; sports news service
- MSN Spaces blog community launched December 2004.
- MSN VirusScan — affiliated with Trend Micro, virus services for MSN Hotmail and MSN Premium services
- MSNBC — joint venture with NBC; news service
- Ninemsn — joint venture with Television Network Nine Network Australia