Microsoft is not content to let Google flood the internet with various services and they are coming up with a new service called "Windows Live Essentials" which sounds terribly similar to their Office Live Essentials.
What does this Google Pack clone offer ?
It will have instant-messaging, e-mail, spyware/virus services and other Windows Live offerings, plus a Windows Live Dashboard for central access and according to Liveside, “one-click installations as well as providing update notifications for the individual products.”
We're not sure when Microsoft plans to release this offering but it won't be free unless you want to be a beta user for the Windows Live Essentials.
Essentials also has some pluses for Microsoft. Smaller Windows Live products can take advantage of increased exposure and applications are more likely to stay current. There is also the "small" benefit of getting Windows Live products preinstalled on Vista machines via OEMs, as Google have done recently with their toolbar.
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