14 DAY TRIAL // On Monday, Microsoft announced plans to release a first version of new, no cost parental control software for Windows XP by the end of June. "The first version of Windows Live Family Safety Settings software will let people filter online content and get activity reports on Web sites that were visited by others," Microsoft representatives said. A feature update, which Microsoft said will come out later this year, will add an ability called "contact management," which will give parents the possibility to approve contacts on Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Messenger, an e-mail and instant messaging service, respectively. The feature also offers control over who can access their kids' blogs on Microsoft's Spaces service.
Just more than half of U.S. families with Net-surfing teens use filtering programs, with more than 12 million copies of such software in use, according to a study conducted last year by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The study is available here.
On the same day the company said it is a month away from launching a Windows Live Video service where content could be bought and sold much like what's available now through Google Inc.
The new service is expected to be available publicly in April, according to LiveSide.net, a tech site dedicated to Windows Live news.
Moz Hussain, a product planner for Microsoft's blogging service MSN Spaces said future integration of Windows Live services and Spaces would allow him to "aggregate things that I'm posting in different places, whether it's a restaurant review, whether its photos from my holiday, whether its my favorite video clips and movies, all of those things I can aggregate and share with the world."
On Tuesday, the giant announced the decision to support a Canadian Web portal designed for improving privacy protection for consumers. "The Privacy Network portal is being maintained by Microsoft Canada in partnership with Bell Security Solutions (a subsidiary of Bell Canada) and Toronto's Centre for Innovation Law and Policy," the software maker said on Tuesday. "The portal, built using Microsoft's SharePoint, will offer researchers, government and security industry professionals a roped-off areas to discuss new policies and technology to improve data protection," the company said. It is also created to be a good place where consumers can get general information on topics such as identity theft and phishing.
In its attempt to make products more safe and secure, Microsoft allied with the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group. The move brings the giant's Outlook, Exchange Server and MSN Hotmail products and services into the project, which is dedicated to stop spam, phishing, viruses and other security threats distributed via e-mail. San Francisco-based MAAWG aims to realize this by coming up with industry best practices, by evaluating anti-spam technology and by developing public policy pushes. "As a MAAWG member, Microsoft will collaborate with network operators and technology vendors from the U.S., Canada and Europe. Existing supporters include America Online, France Telecom, Comcast and EarthLink," the group said.
"Microsoft has filed lawsuits against eight persons who tried to sell pirated copies of its products on eBay," the giant said on Wednesday. Microsoft, which monitors auction sites for potential violators, said it was notified of seven of the individuals after customers submitted queries to its Genuine Advantage application. The program is designed to test the authenticity of Microsoft software. Complaints regarding some of the defendants were also received by Microsoft's antipiracy hotline. The eight defendants are located in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York and Washington.
"We strongly believe in the convenience and global reach of the virtual marketplace. Unfortunately, a number of online sellers are undermining trust in the system by using the Internet to hawk illegal products to unsuspecting consumers," said Matt Lundy, a Microsoft attorney, in a statement.
On Thursday, Microsoft confirmed plans for VoIP and video applications offered through Windows Live services that will contain new VoIP phones and a click-to-call feature for address book names. Windows Live Mail, currently a desktop beta, will include a free e-mail client created to enable users to right-click on their address book contacts to launch a PC-to-PC voice or video conversation. The giant also plans to test its Windows Live Search, which aims to allow users to make a direct call from their computer to the search result. Microsoft hopes to introduce new VoIP phones created to make PC-to-PC calls and one-way PC-to-phone calls via Windows Live Messenger.
On Friday, Microsoft and Epic Records announced an agreement to offer one year of free music and music videos to all Xbox 360 clients, as part of its Xbox Live efforts. The service, which was released last Thursday, will showcase 12 artists through the Xbox Live Artist of the Month program. Users of the service will be able to download the featured music videos from the Xbox Live Marketplace and receive other benefits, such as artist interviews, that can be viewed from their Xbox 360 console. Details are not yet confirmed on whether Microsoft plans to charge for the service after the one-year promotion is completed.
The same day it was made public that the giant is in the process of acquiring Boulder-based remote-sensing company Vexcel Corp. for an undisclosed sum. "The acquisition is part of Microsoft's exciting vision to deliver a dynamic, digital representation of the real world that provides the best local search and mapping experience to consumers, businesses and government," said Jerry Skaw, Vexcel's marketing communications manager. Vexcel now employs about 70 people at 1690 38th St. and another 60 people at its offices in Canada, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
