Microsoft retools MSN Explorer
Published: 12 Apr 2001 15:30 BST
Microsoft said it will introduce a new version of MSN Explorer, its Web client software, in the latest attempt by software giant to unseat AOL Time Warner for new media dominance.
MSN Explorer, which was launched in October, is software that combines the company's various Internet products into one service. MSN Explorer includes the Internet Explorer Web browser, MSN Internet Access ISP, the newly refurbished MSN Music software, and client access to Microsoft's instant messaging service, MSN Messenger.
MSN Explorer also features areas that link to Microsoft's free Web services such as its MSN.com portal, MSN Hotmail, financial site MSN Money Central and other content sites.
The new version of MSN Explorer, due next week, includes several minor upgrades and new features. For instance, users can now collapse toolbars for more screen space, use their Hotmail email addresses as their Internet Access log-in, access to email while not online, and use a spell check feature in Hotmail.
Microsoft said the service has steadily been gaining popularity. The company said 6 million people now use MSN Explorer.
While luring 6 million users since October may be a worthwhile achievement, MSN Explorer pales in comparison to AOL's 28 million paid subscribers.
But Microsoft has not lost all of its battles against AOL. Last month, the company announced that MSN Messenger was being used by more people worldwide than AOL's instant messaging products individually. In under two years, MSN Messenger has grown from no users to a population challenging AOL's.
Microsoft also recently unveiled its HailStorm initiative, which will connect its many Web services with MSN Messenger. HailStorm has been billed as a way to manage personal data as consumers move among Web-based computer applications.
Microsoft competitors are concerned that the company may be repeating anticompetitive practices that led it a federal antitrust trial and a court order that the company be split up. That order has been appealed, and a decision by an appellate court is expected to be handed down at any time.
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