Microsoft has officially started rolling out the next generation of its Windows Live suite of applications and services. According to the Redmond company, Windows Live Wave 3 will start being unveiled in the U.S. over the coming weeks. However, the Wave 3 updates will stretch well into early 2009 as far as the global deployment is concerned, as Microsoft needs to take Windows Live to the next level in no less than 54 countries and in 48 localized languages. 

"Think of Windows Live as the single place where people using our e-mail, messaging and photo-sharing services can stay connected," said Chris Jones, corporate vice president of Windows Live Experience Program Management at Microsoft. "Our customers have friends across the Web. They communicate through many unconnected Web services and want access to it all from a single location — without worrying about how it’s done. Now Windows Live takes care of that, with an integrated personal communication service that works across the Web with optimized experiences on the PC and mobile phone."

Microsoft is essentially preparing to kick up a notch all the applications and services under the Windows Live brand umbrella. The Redmond company will revamp Windows Live Messenger, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Mail, Writer, Toolbar, and Family Safety. But, at the same time, the software giant also overhauled Windows Live Skydrive, Windows Live Sync, Windows Live Photos and Windows Live Hotmail.

"People sometimes ask me "What is Windows Live?" and "How does that relate to Hotmail, Messenger and Photo Gallery?" revealed Brian Hall, general manager for the Windows Live Business Group. "Quite simply, our goal with Windows Live is to help keep your life in sync. We do this by giving you great tools for communicating and sharing with the people you care about most. We help you bring together all of your digital stuff from across the web. And we optimize your experiences for where you are – on your PC, in Outlook, on your mobile phone, and on the web."