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Microsoft adds messaging to Live.com

Martin LaMonica CNET News

Published: 22 Nov 2005 10:25 GMT

Microsoft has introduced a domain hosting service for its fledging Live.com product line.

The software giant on Friday launched the beta version of Windows Live Custom Domains service. It will provide email, instant messaging and links to other MSN services to people who have existing Web site domain names.

The service is the latest that the company has previewed since the unveiling earlier this month of Live.com, a Web site and set of rebranded services rooted in Microsoft's MSN Web portal business.

The company posted a list of Live.com-branded services under development on the Web site, Windows Live Ideas. Microsoft lists many of the services, such as its Live.com Web content aggregation site and Web-based Windows Live Mail site, in beta testing.

With its Custom Domains service, Microsoft will give consumers up to 20 email accounts with 250MB per address for an existing Internet domain name.

It will include junk-mail filtering and virus scanning and allow a person to check email from any Web-enabled PC. The service will simplify access to MSN Messenger, MSN Spaces and other MSN services, according to the company.