Microsoft unveils 'live' gaming

LOS ANGELES — Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday announced a cross-platform gaming service that integrates games played on cell phones, Xbox 360 consoles and the upcoming Windows Vista operating system.

The "Live Anywhere" service will be available as part of Windows Vista, Microsoft's next-generation PC operating system. The consumer version is scheduled for release early next year.

"It means that you have one online community," Gates said in a news conference. "This platform can really unleash developers to do amazing new things."

The system would extend the company's existing Xbox Live service for the Xbox 360 console into millions of Internet-enabled PCs and cellular phones. No pricing information on the new service was announced.

In recent months, Microsoft has been pushing a number of online services that it hopes will boost revenue as markets for its traditional software become increasingly saturated. The company expects to make money off such efforts through a mixture of subscription fees and advertising.

"The vision here is each platform plays its own role. We really think we're in a unique position," Gates said Tuesday. "Microsoft is probably the only company that can pull this off."

Microsoft said it has sold about 3.2 million Xbox 360s so far — about half of them are used online. By the time rivals Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp. release their systems by the end of the year, Gates said Microsoft should have a 10 million unit head start and a selection of 160 Xbox 360 games.