Microsoft's
next-generation operating system, Windows 8 is nearly here and with it will
bring changes to Microsoft's "Windows Live" platform. The
Redmond-based company has decided to retire the "Windows Live" brand
once Windows 8 arrives.
This
means that Windows Live-based services such as Windows Live Messenger, Windows
Live Calendar, and Windows Live Mail will be known as Messenger, Calendar and
Mail, respectively. Services such as Hotmail will continue to run normally, but
Microsoft wants to unify their services under a singular "Microsoft
account". This seems like a wise idea.
What
happens to @live.com accounts? Well, it seems like they'll be merged over onto
the new system, with the same Microsoft account capable of being used for
signing into Windows 8 and will be used for Xbox Live, Zune, and more. This is
what Microsoft wants its services and products to look like under Windows 8:
