From Deseret News archives:

Microsoft ready to launch own Internet video service

Published: Monday, Sept. 18, 2006 7:05 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SEATTLE (AP) — Microsoft Corp. is hoping to tap the explosive popularity of online video sharing by joining startups and major Internet rivals with its own video service.

"Soapbox on MSN Video" will let Internet users watch and post videos, rate or comment on them and share favorites by e-mailing them or linking them to their personal Web pages or blogs.

Rob Bennett, general manager of MSN's entertainment and video services unit, acknowledged that Silicon Valley startup YouTube Inc. has an early lead, having already attracted tens of millions of users in the year and a half since it launched. Rivals Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL also have similar offerings.

But Microsoft believes there is "still plenty of room to innovate, and go beyond what I would say most services provide ... just sort of the basics, a very kind of primitive experience that is not that engaging," Bennett said. "It's not that fun to use. It just gets the job done."

During a preview Monday, Bennett said Soapbox videos will be displayed in slightly larger windows than those competing services offer, and users will be able to expand videos to the full screen while they are playing, rather than having to jump back to the beginning and start over.

Story continues below
Soapbox will group videos in various categories, including most recent, most viewed, most commented on and top favorites. It will let users "tag" clips with keywords designed to make them easier for people to find.

A beta "test" version will initially be available on an invitation-only basis to some Microsoft employees and regular MSN testers, Bennett said. He said Soapbox will be expanded to a wider audience "very quickly," but he could not say how soon.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Alta shortstop makes Team USA

I enjoyed watching the duke brothers. it is quite sad that if Brock wasnt...

Thank you. Such a great reminder to all of us parents of the importance of...

Heck, I've had some major depression in the past, but I still am able to go...

Letters: Gays' parades offensive

1st Pagan | 4:09 p.m. Did you read my posting? I said I agree that the...

Reagan much-beloved in Utah

Reagan was a war criminal. His administration was responsible for countless...

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not all out to get you.

Yes I want a Supporters Sheild, and a "Western Conference Championship...

5A: Miners' Cantwell makes name

Yeah, those comments are ridiculous, Cantwell is a stud and definitely the...

The NIMBY attitude is getting so old.

Protests against Phoenix LDS temple

And why were there were so many troubles with neighbors when they proposed...

Advertisements