Windows Live Spaces has come up with major updates todayMicrosoft, in a bid to ride on the ever-increasing popularity of online social networks began rolling out a major update to its ‘Spaces’ blogging service. It has added new functionalities and includes features that integrates Spaces with other Live services. This includes more customization options through the addition of gadget support from the Windows Live Gallery.



The member area interface is very good looking, and user-friendly. However, the best and smartest new thing in the update is the Live Contact, a feature you have in the Windows Live Messenger. It enables users to have IM conversation through the Spaces site. What’s more, Microsoft has taken utmost care to prevent some of the issues that MySpace confronted like pedophiles/child molesters cultivating victims through MySpace. Apart from the standard request for approval of adding friends, it has imposed controls on users below 18, and only those who are already in their Windows Messenger contact list can contact them. (Well ask a 15-yr old lad wanting to contact a hot 18+ babe; he will tell you that he can very easily become a 21-yr old man! Practically this is eyewash.)



With regular MSN users numbering in tens of millions (Hotmail is still perhaps the number one web-based free email service), it can really hope to get a good opening. Already there are many, many Spaces users now.



With MySpace outages are becoming regulation of late (their IM client missing for months during the beginning of this year), Yahoo! 360 still not catching up as expected Spaces can be a more than moderate success.



Did I hear someone mentioning the other huge successes like Tagworld, Facebook, Hi5 and the rapidly growing orkut? Well, online social networks are growing and will continue to grow like mushrooms. Then one day they will evaporate, as it would become all too common like email services in 1999-2000. Just like you don’t remember how many email accounts you had, neither do I. Chances are that you have stuck to or still use your good old Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail account often just like I do, GMail and, and (??)... well nothing else withstanding.



MySpace would survive because it is still the most popular, with the highest number of members; but then the future belongs to those who have the strongest base, the best features and quality service. Spaces can make a difference here.



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