MSN 8 Feature Sheet
July 24, 2002 Contents
Welcome to MSN 8 Those who subscribe or switch to MSN®
8 will receive advanced software from Microsoft Corp. that makes the Web more useful every day for themselves and their families. MSN 8 extends existing world-class MSN services with new features that enable people at any level of experience to take advantage of the Internets power and potential through better communications, better browsing, better online safety and better service. MSN 8 keeps things simple with state-of-the-art, one-window navigation and one-click access to many key features; however, as peoples expertise and confidence increases, MSN 8 grows with them, offering more options and rich features to explore. MSN 8 will be available via MSN Internet Service for people who want to use MSN as their dial-up or broadband provider, or as a premium service that can be used with an existing ISP. Pricing details will be made available closer to availability. The MSN vision is to make the Internet more useful and relevant to people every day. MSN 7, released in October 2001, was designed to make the Web more useful for people by delivering a faster and more reliable online experience with advanced Web services. Since the launch of MSN 7, MSN has expanded its subscription business to more than 8 million subscribers in the United States and remains the worlds most popular portal destination on the Web. 1 At the end of 2001, MSN reached a milestone in its competitive battle with AOL when it surpassed AOL in overall fourth-quarter new subscriptions, with 1.2 million additions. MSN will continue delivering the most successful online services for consumers and will expand its subscription business by delivering nationwide broadband Internet access this summer and MSN 8 this fall. MSN 8 designers intend to accomplish four goals: 1.
| Advanced communication services. MSN 8 combines the best features of Hotmail®
the worlds most popular Web-based e-mail client 2 and Outlook Express to create an e-mail client that is powerful but easy to use. MSN Mail offers a rich canvas that allows people to use graphics, photos and special effects to create unique e-mail messages, and exceptional spam filtering that grows with individuals as they use it. MSN 8 also introduces Download Manager, a feature that helps people easily locate downloads in a single location, pause them to take care of other business, and resume those that are incomplete.
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| Useful browsing. MSN 8 has greater flexibility and personalization, making it the right choice for a wide range of people at every level of Web experience from beginning to advanced. The customizable Dashboard gives people quick access to the information they care about and the tools they need in one place, and other toolbars, menus and e-mail display formats to make their Web experience more flexible, personal and rewarding. In addition, components such as MSN Money Plus, MSN Calendar and MSN Learning & Research Plus are built to help people manage their time and money online, and MSN Photos Plus offers online services that complement existing software applications to enable people to order prints and gifts online.
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| Trustworthy online safety. MSN 8 gives parents state-of-the-art tools to help keep kids safe online, allowing them to monitor their childrens Web activity and set appropriate limits based on each childs age and maturity. MSN 8 also provides exceptional virus protection services.
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| Better service and options. MSN 8 has connectivity options to fit consumers needs, whether they are for DSL, a leading dial-up provider or an existing ISP. The MSN 8 package includes up to nine e-mail addresses with individual passwords and personalization features; free 24x7 customer service via toll-free phone, e-mail or chat; and tools and services that make it easy to switch to MSN from AOL or another ISP.
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With that in mind, MSN 8 was designed to provide all people, from beginner to advanced, with the most flexible and useful online experience available today and it delivers. Whats New and Improved in MSN 8 Below are highlights of new or improved features that MSN 8 offers consumers to help them get more from the Internet, regardless of their experience. Features are subject to change in the final release. Advanced Communication Services Feature | Description | Powerful MSN Mail | MSN 8 combines the best features of both Outlook Express and Hotmail to create MSN Mail, a robust new e-mail client that includes the following:
Advanced junk mail filtering. MSN Mail includes a new junk mail filter that is easy to set up and either directs e-mail to a specified junk mail folder or automatically deletes it. The junk mail filter is built on patented Microsoft technology that, over time, learns what type of e-mail the person considers junk mail and filters unwanted messages with increasing efficiency.
Full-featured e-mail. MSN 8 subscribers can use color, graphics, photos and special effects to create richly formatted e-mail messages, newsletters, invitations and e-mail-based photo albums without having to use other software applications.
Contextual menus. MSN Mail users can right-click to access additional features that are directly relevant to the task at hand.
Column formatting. Drag-and-drop techniques can be used to rearrange columns to meet peoples preferences.
Preview Pane. As with Outlook Express, the new Preview Pane feature in MSN Mail allows people to read e-mail more quickly and efficiently, without having to open and close each message separately.
Message searching. With MSN Mail, people can search for messages by sender, recipient, subject or by looking for specific words in the message text.
Offline e-mail. With offline mail, people can read, compose and send e-mail when they are between online connections.
POP support. MSN Mail allows users to receive mail from multiple POP e-mail accounts in their MSN Mail Inbox, so they can monitor and manage all their e-mail traffic in one place.
HTML mail. MSN Mail makes it easy to send large messages with photos and graphics by automatically compressing these files into HTML, thereby reducing message size, increasing performance and ensuring rich messages that will retain their fidelity.
Faster performance. With MSN 8, sending and receiving e-mail messages is faster and easier than ever. Messages are downloaded to the e-mail client whenever people sign in, so people always get instant access to their e-mail as soon as they open their Inbox.
Comprehensive address book. The address book in MSN Mail gives people the choice to add depth of detail for each contact including multiple e-mail addresses, phone numbers, street addresses and personal data so people can keep their contact information in one place.
IntelliSync for MSN. MSN Mail users can synchronize appointments, contacts, tasks and notes with personal information managers such as PDA devices (including Pocket PCs or Palm OS-based handheld devices) and Microsoft Outlook.
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Useful Browsing Feature | Description | Streamlined User Interface | MSN 8 combines detailed 3-D graphics and new design features to create an inviting visual Web experience for people of every age and ability. Translucent drop-down menus below the navigation icons offer quick links to frequently used MSN 8 features and services and popular Web sites.
| Resizable Navigation Bar | People can easily adjust the size and appearance of the navigation bar by simply clicking and dragging the lower edge of the bar up or down to display three format options icons with text labels, icons only or text only each in a variety of sizes. | Address AutoComplete | Once a subscriber has typed the URL for a particular Web site, MSN 8 remembers it and automatically completes the URL whenever he or she begins to type that string of characters again. | Dashboard | The personalized Dashboard offers convenient access to constantly updated information that an individual deems most important from a favorite photo and frequent instant messaging contacts to local news and weather, stock tracking, and upcoming calendar appointments and bill payments. For further customization, the Dashboard can either appear as a vertical bar on the side of the home page or be docked to the Windows desktop. | MyMSN | People can make their personalized MyMSN page their default home page to have quick access to information they value as most important. | Browsing History | With MSN 8, people can review their browsing history, a list of Web sites they have visited previously. The browsing history lists Web sites by name, date and those most frequently visited. | Download Manager | The new integrated Download Manager makes it much easier for people to manage downloads, allowing them to resume incomplete downloads in progress and providing them with a single location for all downloaded information. | Print Preview | Always a popular feature for Microsoft Office documents, Print Preview is available for Web pages for the first time in MSN 8. | MSN Calendar | The new client-based calendar in MSN 8 is attractive and easy to use. The calendar offers multiple view choices day, week or month and allows people to request recurring meetings, set alerts about upcoming appointments, and invite others to join in specific events. MSN Calendar data also can be printed for people who prefer hard copies. | Tools and Content for the Home | MSN 8 extends the user experience with exclusive Microsoft content and tools for managing personal finances, editing and sharing photos, and researching projects:
MSN Money Plus. MSN Money Plus features including account and bill tracking, stock analysis and tracking, and budgeting and spending analyses make it easier to manage finances. Online bill payments are included with the MSN 8 service, making paying bills quick and easy. People also can display financial information on their Dashboard.
MSN Learning & Research Plus. MSN 8 includes more than 60,000 exclusive encyclopedia articles from Encarta that contain rich multimedia content, tools for project planning, and a thesaurus and dictionary for reference.
MSN Photo Plus. MSN Photo Plus gives MSN 8 subscribers an easy way to share photos with other Web subscribers by providing powerful photo-editing tools, easy-to-use templates for creative projects, and simple steps to develop film and order photo gifts online.
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Trustworthy Online Safety Feature | Description | Personalized Parental Controls | State-of-the-art parental controls in MSN 8 give parents tools to help keep their families safe online and designate appropriate settings for each child. Please see the Personalized Parental Controls section on page 8 for more detailed descriptions about the parental controls features.
Web page content filtering. With this feature, parents can designate content filtering settings according to their childs age. If they feel that the default settings are either too restrictive or too weak, they can regulate the childs access to specific Web site categories (such as gambling or arts/entertainment) as defined by an independent ratings bureau. Because controls can be set at the networking level of the PC, settings are enforced as long as the child is logged in, regardless of which application the child uses to browse the Web. Parents may also use features such as the Kids Request Line (below) to further tailor filtering to their childs maturity level based on individual sites or Web pages.
Flexibility by feature. After initially designating parental controls settings based on a childs age group, parents may then further personalize the childs experience by setting individual restrictions on certain MSN services and tasks such as MSN Mail, MSN Messenger, MSN Learning & Research Plus, MSN Music, MSN Search, and Internet downloads. For example, parents can define an e-mail allow list, so their children can only receive mail from or send mail to a set of people approved by the parents.
Kids Request Line. The Kids Request Line provides kids and parents with a communication tool for negotiating access to blocked Web sites. This feature allows kids and parents to jointly develop a personalized content filtering solution. While online, children can request broader access to Web pages, e-mail addresses and buddy list entries in MSN Messenger. Parents can approve or deny those requests, or initiate their own requests to block or allow access to similar resources.
Weekly history report. MSN 8 provides parents with a weekly e-mail report about their kids recent online experience. This report shows the total amount of time spent online in the past week, which Web sites a child has visited, which sites he or she attempted to visit before being blocked, people the child sent e-mail to through MSN Mail, people the child has chatted with using MSN Messenger, files the child has downloaded, and any requests he or she has made asking the parents to modify the restrictions.
MSN kid-specific home page. Kids and teens may choose to view an age-appropriate default home page in lieu of the MSN.com portal.
Web searching for kids. Parents can set search options based on their childs age to display age-appropriate results.
| Anti-Virus Protection | The anti-virus service in MSN 8 scans and cleans viruses from e-mail messages and attachments. It also provides automatic updates of current anti-virus signatures to help keep people safe from the latest viruses. |
Better Service and Options Feature | Description | MSN 8 Connectivity Options | MSN 8 has connectivity options to fit peoples needs, whether they are for DSL, dial-up or an existing ISP:
MSN 8 Broadband. This always-connected service is built on Microsoft IntelliSpeed TM technology to maximize performance and reliability and make setup easy.
MSN 8 dial-up. Fast and reliable service features more than 6,000 local access numbers so people can get online when and where they want.
MSN 8 Internet Software (for use with other ISPs). Exclusive Internet software based on advanced Microsoft technology works with existing Internet service providers.
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MSN 8 Import Wizard (Switcher Tools) Tapping into consumers growing discontent with America Online (AOL) and their desire for a better Internet service, MSN Internet Access has launched MSN 8 Import Wizard 3 a suite of new switching tools that reduces the leading barriers to leaving AOL and makes switching to MSN Internet Access easier than ever. People who want to switch to MSN 8 from AOL or any other Internet service provider can get help closing their account and making a seamless, hassle-free transition with tools from the TrueSwitch service. 4 A quick, three-step process enables people to automatically move their previous e-mail, address book and calendar information to their new MSN Internet Access account. People also can choose to have e-mail forwarded from their AOL account to their MSN account for 30 days. This tool makes it easy for subscribers to notify friends and family members in their old address book about their new MSN e-mail address with a single personalized message. More details about how to make the switch today can be obtained by visiting http://switch.msn.com/ or calling (800) FREE MSN (373-3676). 5 Personalized Parental Controls Customizable parental controls are an important part of MSN 8 because no Internet service provider can define for everyone what a safe online experience for children looks like. Parents should develop a partnership with their kids to help them make choices as they grow and mature. With this in mind, designers created fully customizable parental control options in MSN 8 to provide tools that help parents protect both the innocent 5-year-old and the crafty 13-year-old from communicating with strangers or viewing content that parents feel is inappropriate. The breakthrough technology, in tandem with an independent ratings bureau, helps parents keep their kids safe online. Parents can set up controls quickly by first choosing default settings according to their childs age group, and then by customizing the content filtering and communications options as appropriate for their child. Since controls are Passport-enabled and can be set at the networking level on PCs running the Windows operating system, these personalized settings remain, even if someone downloads a different Internet browser or if a child logs on to MSN 8 away from home. This is true for all MSN 8 subscribers, regardless of where they log in, which Internet client theyre using, and whether they have a broadband connection. Currently, AOL offers only the standard on and off options, but MSN 8 enables parents and children to collaboratively develop the right level of access to e-mail, instant messaging and Web sites, as well as agree on other appropriate settings that can be adjusted as children get older. Parents can choose how best to use the tools in MSN 8 to help ensure a safe but rewarding online experience for their children. Web Page Content Filtering If parents worry about what kind of Web sites their children are viewing, they can designate content filter settings first, according to their childs age group, and then by choosing whether their child can have access to more than 50 content categories (e.g., "criminal skills") as indexed by a third-party service. Finally, since no company should decide whats best for a child, parents can work with their kids to create a personalized list of exceptions either manually or by using the Kids Request Line. These controls can be used with MSN 8 alone or can be applied to the entire Windows-based PC at the networking level, which helps ensure that children and their friends cant use other applications or browsers to access information their parents have placed off limits. Parents can make exceptions for specific Web sites, or even specific Web pages, without having to remove or alter the overall restrictions. Flexibility by Feature After initially designating parental controls settings based on a childs age group, parents may then further personalize the childs experience by setting individual restrictions on certain MSN services and tasks such as MSN Mail, MSN Messenger Service, MSN Learning & Research Plus with Encarta, MSN Music, MSN Search and Internet downloads. The following list of brief examples shows the enhanced protection and flexibility offered by MSN 8 today:
MSN Mail and MSN Messenger. A childs access can be allowed, blocked or limited to sending and receiving messages from people who appear in a parent-approved contact list or address book.
MSN Learning & Research Plus. Parents can block their childs access to certain explicit language.
MSN Music. Parents may block songs that contain explicit lyrics.
MSN Search. Parents can designate age-specific searching on the Web. The Web Searching for Kids section below gives more details.
Internet downloads. Though children may have access to the Web, parents can restrict them from downloading files or applications that may contain viruses, malicious code or other inappropriate content. Kids Request Line After designating Web page content filtering settings based on a childs age, parents can use the Kids Request Line a feature unique to MSN 8 to further customize their childs online experience. The request line serves as a negotiating tool between parents and their child so children can request broader access to Web pages while online. Parents can review those requests, then approve or deny them, or initiate their own requests to block or allow access to similar resources. Children even have the opportunity to explain why they would like access to a given Web site (homework, research, etc.). If parents are not present or online at the time, the requests will be queued up for them to review the next time theyre online. Parents can process requests from their children from any PC with MSN 8. Consumer scenario: Josh, a junior high school student, is doing a research project on breast cancer for his science class. Because his mom has chosen to block his access to content that could be construed as adult, he cannot reach a breast cancer research site. Since his report is due tomorrow, Josh needs access to the site right away. Rather than sending an e-mail request to his mom, he uses the instant-allow feature of the Kids Request Line by clicking on a link that leads to a pop-up window where his mom can enter her password to instantly approve the page. Josh is able to view the site and finish his report in time for his morning class. Parents also have the ability to allow or block certain pages or sections of a Web site if they choose. For example, a parent might not want to allow their child to access certain hosting or community sites such as MSN Groups. However, if they decide to create a family site on MSN Groups, parents can give their child access to that page or part of the Web site, while the rest remains off-limits. And the opposite is also true: Parents can give their child access to a Web site, but keep small sections or certain pages off-limits. Weekly History Report One of the main reasons parents dont allow their child to spend more time online is that they simply dont have any way to know what their child is doing when he or she is using the Internet. MSN 8 gives parents the option to receive a weekly e-mail report on their kids recent online experience. This report shows which Web sites a child has visited, which sites he or she attempted to visit before being blocked, the people to whom the child sent e-mail or instant messages, the total amount of time the child spent online in the past week, and any pending requests he or she has made asking the parents to modify the restrictions. After reviewing the report, parents may allow or block additional Web sites and e-mail addresses by using the Kids Request Line feature. MSN Kid-Specific Home Page Kids may change their default home page, which displays content appropriate to their age. For kids 9 and under, MSN has created the MSN Kids page ( http://kids.msn.com ). Kids in the 1013 age range may prefer the MSN Kidz page ( http://kidz.msn.com ). Web Searching for Kids With MSN 8, parents can set search options based on their childs age. If their 8-year-old uses MSN Search, parents can choose the age-appropriate setting that will filter search results and their child will see only content designated for the 9-and-under age group designated by LookSmarts directory. And because MSN 8 personalizes Web experiences for each member of the family, their 13-year-old will be able to receive a broader set of search results. Summary MSN 8 provides more advanced communications services, useful browsing, trusthworthy online safety, and better service and options, offering people a more useful Web that they can easily tailor to fit their lives. And MSN is the only service that delivers an outstanding online experience to people at every level of expertisefrom those just beginning to explore the Web to advanced Web enthusiasts. Drawing on the power of Microsoft software, MSN provides the following:
Advanced communication services. MSN 8 provides people with smart, advanced services to help make their everyday e-mail and instant messaging experiences more useful, rich and fun. MSN Mail offers a robust, easy-to-use e-mail client that combines the best features of Outlook Express and Hotmail and includes advanced junk mail filtering. The integrated Download Manager offers quick access to downloaded data in one location, making it easier for people to locate and manage all downloaded information.
Useful browsing. MSN 8 provides powerful and innovative software that helps customers gain quick, easy and convenient access to the most useful tools and interesting content on the Web. With a streamlined interface, exceptional navigation and customization options, and innovative new features such as the Dashboard and the Download Manager, MSN helps people use the Web the way they like. Through built-in functionality and features such as MSN Calendar, MSN Money Plus, MSN Photos Plus and MSN Learning & Research Plus, MSN helps people manage their time and money more efficiently, learn new things and pursue creative projects.
Trusthworthy online safety. MSN 8 parental control options and improved virus protection help families stay safe online. State-of-the-art parental controls offer tools and services that help enable parents to closely monitor their childrens online activity and set limits that are appropriate for each childs age, individual needs and level of maturity.
Better service and options. MSN 8 has multiple connectivity options to fit peoples needs, including the choice of DSL, a leading dial-up provider or an existing ISP. The MSN 8 package includes up to nine e-mail addresses with individual passwords and personalization options; free 24x7 customer service via toll-free phone, e-mail or chat; and special switching tools designed for those who wish to easily switch from AOL to MSN 8. With MSN 8, MSN not only achieves all its design goals and exceeds anything its competitors can offer, it also sets the new standard for rich features, ease of use, and a safe and rewarding online experience for people and their families. 1 Subscriber number based on internal MSN data. MSN.com attracts more than 270 million unique users worldwide per month, based on internal MSN data. 2 According to data from Jupiter Media Metrix Custom Data, May 2002. Figures include data from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. 3 MSN 8 Import Wizard is available for all versions of Outlook Express, Internet Explorer and AOL versions 5.x, 6.x and 7.x. 4 Users must subscribe to the TrueSwitch service in accordance with the TrueSwitch terms of service to access this service. Not available for every version of AOL. Details are available at http://www.trueswitch.com/msn/ . 5 Telephone number subject to change at launch of MSN 8.
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