14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has embraced the growing social networking universe, rooting it deep into a range of its offerings, be them software or services.
Facebook and Twitter seem to get the most love from the Redmond company, but the software giant is not ignoring smaller players, despite the focus on the two heavyweights.
With millions crowding to social networks, Microsoft found it necessary to make sure that its own products feature a social component, and excellent move from the company, which is bound to increase the appeal of its offerings to users that are addicted to liking and tweeting.
“Bing is the first major search engine to work deeply with Twitter to collect, analyze and uniquely present real-time Twitter content, Bing also uses Facebook data to make search results more personal, informed by the “likes” of your friends,” revealed Microsoft’s Steve Clayton.
But there are additional Microsoft services that allow users to connect with their friends on their favorite social network without having to disconnect from non-social activities.
Xbox LIVE is an excellent example in this regard. Gamers in the Xbox community can post to Facebook or Twitter right from Xbox LIVE.
At the same time, Xbox LIVE allows users to connect with one another through Windows Live Messenger, with Video Kinect definitely an experience worth exploring.
In its turn, Windows Live Messenger, as well as additional components of Windows Live Essentials connect to a range of services including: Facebook, Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft Lync, Xbox, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail Plus, Flickr, YouTube, Wordpress.com, Blogger, TypePad, etc.
“The Outlook Social Connector integrates with industry-leading social networks, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Windows Live, to offer users seamless access to their social media right inside the world’s most popular e-mail application,” Clayton said.
“Users and reviewers have lauded the Windows Phone 7 support of and integration with social media in a way that is fundamental and distinct from any other mobile device, from smart design that places peoples’ social media at the center of the experience to the support of rich social apps,” he added.