Update to help socialize better

By Jessica Mintz  |   2008-11-14  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

MICROSOFT Corp is planning a Windows Live update in the coming weeks that adds social networking features to the software maker's instant messaging program, free Hotmail e-mail service and other sites.

This overhaul positions the software maker as a competitor to News Corp's MySpace, Facebook and other popular online hangouts. Microsoft claims hundreds of millions of Web e-mail and instant messenger users, but is still seen as a laggard when it comes to understanding the Internet.

In the newer version of Windows Live, disparate contact lists from Live Messenger, Hotmail and Spaces, Microsoft's blog network, are pulled together into one place. Users can set up a "network" of people from that list, then swap details of their daily online lives with friends.

An area on the redesigned Windows Live home page could show, for example, a running list of friends' Twitter messages, Flickr photo uploads, Yelp reviews and WordPress blog entries.

A chunk of the Live Messenger buddy list window will also display tidbits from friends' activities on Microsoft partners' sites.

When users add new digital pictures to the "photos" section of Windows Live, those snapshots will be shared with their network of friends.