Verizon adds Windows Live services

By Candace Lombardi
Staff Writer, CNET News

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Related Stories: Microsoft reveals more about Live Drive
August 24, 2006; Microsoft enlists developers for Live push
June 9, 2006; Windows Live offers a vast array of services
March 14, 2006; Verizon's salvo on cable TV
April 20, 2005

Verizon users will soon have more choices when setting up their broadband service.

Microsoft and Verizon announced Tuesday that Microsoft Windows Live services will be available to Verizon DSL and Verizon Fios customers early next year. In the meantime, MSN Premium services will continue to be offered to current subscribers, according to a joint statement from the companies.

"With the co-branded offering, customers get the best of both worlds. The broadband users have the applications that they can use their speed for. They get a lot of premium services to add extra value for the customer, and our research has shown that customers who use our co-branded services are much more loyal customers and they are more satisfied," said Bobbi Henson, a spokeswoman for Verizon.

Windows Live is Microsoft's new host of applications and services, which in some cases overlap and compete with Yahoo and Google applications. Many of these applications have been offered for free, with additional services offered at a premium.

As part of the deal between Verizon and Microsoft, Verizon customers will have the option of using a co-branded Verizon-Live.com home page, a Verizon-Windows Live Search page, and can use Windows Live Mail as their Verizon e-mail account. They will also receive a Windows Live Toolbar, a co-branded version of Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live OneCare safety scanner--a feature of Microsoft's antivirus software.

Verizon has had a partnership with Microsoft since 2002, when the companies first agreed to offer a co-branded service with MSN 8. MSN 8 evolved into MSN Premium, and now it's evolving into Windows Live, Henson said. This latest agreement is simply an upgrade of the partnership because of the new Microsoft Live services that are available, she said.

Henson noted, however, that the contract is not exclusive and that Verizon users will not automatically be led to the Microsoft Windows Live services portal. When Verizon customers sign up for services and register their online preferences, they're presented with a menu offering a choice of portals with Verizon partners. While customers can set their portal preference to anything they like, the menu presents Verizon, Microsoft and Yahoo as their initial choices. If customers choose nothing then they default to Yahoo, per Verizon's agreement with the company.

See more CNET content tagged:
Microsoft Windows Live, Verizon Communications, MSN 8, Verizon DSL, portal

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 6 comments

Let The "Battle" Begin!
by Captain_Spock August 29, 2006 10:37 AM PDT: "Windows Live is Microsoft's new host of applications and services, which in some cases overlap and compete with Yahoo and Google applications. Many of these applications have been offered for free, with additional services offered at a premium"; Ha! Ha! Coming Soon To A Computer Near You and Introducing "........ Live" with yours truly at the controls (Top Secret) to do battle with Microsoft's Windows Live, Google and Yahoo.; Reply to this comment

"Coming Soon To A Computer Near You"...
by Captain_Spock August 29, 2006 12:12 PM PDT: ... or; rather, Coming To An "eComStation" Near You!

http://www.ecomstation.com/openoffice.phtml

"OpenOffice.org for eComStation and OS/2"; and, going "GOLD" it is SHOW TIME with: "IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5"

http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lotus/products/product3.nsf/wdocs/st75home; Reply to this comment

Dont bother sending Verizon an email asking how to get access to this....
by Silver_2000 August 29, 2006 12:35 PM PDT: As a FIOS customer I sent Verizon Support an email asking about how I would change my portal to this option.. The Web page limits the description of the problem to 70 characters because it appears the email support is strictly automated - I have recieved 3 generic "read these possible solutions emails " NONE of which have ANYTHING to do with the question. At the bottom it says "If we did not provide you with a solution, you can reply to this email with a new description of your problem. Please do not change the subject of the email as we use this for tracking purposes." Whne you reply the system simply sends out a different automated reply ... What a complete waste of customers time...; Reply to this comment View reply
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Sure Wish They Had Given Advance Notice!
by WJeansonne August 29, 2006 12:41 PM PDT: Essentially, I quit Verizon for MS Live services and now they come out and say they will support Live. Well, a day late and dollar short as the saying goes. I already switched to Comcast's Triple Play. Moreover, I asked them repeatedly both at the staff and management levels if they planned on supporting Live (as they do MSN Premium) and they were clueless.; Reply to this comment View reply
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