<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
Dial-up	O
is	O
an	O
Internet	O
service	O
provider	O
operated	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
and	O
formerly	O
also	O
in	O
several	O
other	O
countries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
named	O
The	O
Microsoft	O
Network	O
,	O
it	O
debuted	O
as	O
a	O
proprietary	O
online	O
service	O
on	O
August	O
24	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
renamed	O
the	O
service	O
MSN	B-Application
Internet	I-Application
Access	I-Application
in	O
1998	O
,	O
focusing	O
its	O
main	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
 '	O
brand	O
on	O
its	O
web	O
portal	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
name	O
,	O
MSN.com	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Today	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
still	O
provides	O
dial-up	O
Internet	O
access	O
under	O
the	O
name	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Dial-up	O
'	O
for	O
those	O
who	O
cannot	O
access	O
high-speed	O
broadband	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
several	O
years	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
was	O
the	O
second	O
largest	O
dial-up	O
ISP	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
behind	O
longtime	O
leader	O
AOL	O
,	O
but	O
very	O
few	O
people	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
still	O
rely	O
on	O
dial-up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
dial-up	O
service	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
provides	O
its	O
subscribers	O
with	O
an	O
@msn	O
.com	O
email	B-Operating_System
account	O
to	O
use	O
with	O
Outlook.com	B-Operating_System
and	O
security	O
software	O
such	O
as	O
firewall	B-Application
and	O
anti-virus	B-Application
programs	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
offers	O
these	O
extra	O
features	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
subscription	O
service	O
for	O
users	O
of	O
broadband	O
Internet	O
access	O
named	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Premium	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
concept	O
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
was	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
Advanced	O
Technology	O
Group	O
at	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
headed	O
by	O
Nathan	O
Myhrvold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
was	O
originally	O
conceived	O
as	O
a	O
subscription-based	O
dial-up	O
online	O
service	O
and	O
proprietary	O
content	O
provider	O
like	O
America	O
Online	O
or	O
CompuServe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Then	O
officially	O
known	O
as	O
'	O
The	O
Microsoft	O
Network	O
 '	O
,	O
version	O
1.0	O
of	O
the	O
service	O
launched	O
along	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
on	O
August	O
24	O
,	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Microsoft	O
Network	O
was	O
originally	O
presented	O
through	O
an	O
artificial	O
folder-like	O
graphical	B-Application
user	I-Application
interface	I-Application
integrated	O
into	O
the	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
file	B-Application
management	I-Application
program	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
home	O
page	O
named	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Central	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Categories	O
on	O
MSN	B-Protocol
appeared	O
like	O
folders	O
in	O
the	O
file	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
was	O
included	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
installations	O
and	O
promoted	O
through	O
Windows	O
and	O
other	O
Microsoft	O
software	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Product	O
support	O
and	O
discussion	O
was	O
offered	O
through	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
service	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
information	O
such	O
as	O
news	O
and	O
weather	O
,	O
basic	O
email	B-Operating_System
capabilities	O
,	O
chat	O
rooms	O
,	O
and	O
message	B-Application
boards	I-Application
similar	O
to	O
newsgroups	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
offered	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
Internet	O
via	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
was	O
debate	O
in	O
the	O
media	O
as	O
to	O
whether	O
MSN	B-Protocol
would	O
be	O
an	O
'	O
Internet	O
killer	O
 '	O
,	O
and	O
some	O
companies	O
hedged	O
their	O
bets	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
year	O
,	O
creating	O
content	O
both	O
on	O
MSN	B-Protocol
and	O
the	O
World	O
Wide	O
Web	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
launched	O
too	O
late	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
real	O
threat	O
to	O
the	O
web	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Bill	O
Gates	O
 '	O
internal	O
'	O
Internet	O
Tidal	O
Wave	O
memo	O
 '	O
,	O
which	O
refocused	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
be	O
Internet-centric	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
began	O
to	O
move	O
its	O
content	O
to	O
the	O
web	O
and	O
promote	O
itself	O
more	O
actively	O
as	O
an	O
Internet	O
service	O
provider	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
renamed	O
its	O
original	O
proprietary	O
online	O
service	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Classic	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
eventually	O
shut	O
down	O
any	O
remaining	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Classic	O
service	O
in	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1996	O
,	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
increasing	O
relevancy	O
and	O
rapid	O
growth	O
of	O
the	O
World	O
Wide	O
Web	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
created	O
a	O
new	O
version	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
,	O
called	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
'	O
,	O
which	O
combined	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
Internet	O
with	O
web-based	O
multimedia	O
content	O
in	O
a	O
new	O
program	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer.	O
'	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
service	O
was	O
promoted	O
to	O
existing	O
MSN	B-Protocol
subscribers	O
beginning	O
October	O
10	O
,	O
1996	O
;	O
the	O
general	O
release	O
followed	O
on	O
December	O
10	O
,	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
promoted	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
with	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
advertisements	O
and	O
promotional	O
materials	O
describing	O
the	O
service	O
with	O
the	O
phrase	O
,	O
"	O
Every	O
new	O
universe	O
begins	O
with	O
a	O
big	O
bang.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
offered	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
new	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
service	O
on	O
a	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
that	O
it	O
sent	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
subscribers	O
in	O
the	O
fall	O
of	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
inserted	O
,	O
the	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
opened	O
to	O
the	O
ambitious	O
and	O
flashy	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Preview	O
 '	O
,	O
an	O
interactive	O
video-based	O
experience	O
that	O
introduced	O
current	O
and	O
prospective	O
subscribers	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
version	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
and	O
described	O
the	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Preview	O
was	O
filmed	O
at	O
the	O
Paramount	O
Theatre	O
in	O
Seattle	O
and	O
was	O
formatted	O
as	O
a	O
guided	O
tour	O
of	O
a	O
mock	O
premiere	B-Application
event	O
for	O
the	O
new	O
MSN	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
hosted	O
by	O
a	O
witty	O
and	O
sarcastic	O
character	O
named	O
'	O
Michael	O
 '	O
who	O
welcomed	O
viewers	O
outside	O
of	O
the	O
theater	O
and	O
then	O
guided	O
them	O
through	O
the	O
theater	O
to	O
meet	O
several	O
other	O
characters	O
,	O
each	O
of	O
whom	O
represented	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
channels	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
'	O
s	O
'	O
On	O
Stage	O
 '	O
area	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
platform	O
for	O
interactive	O
multimedia	O
content	O
in	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
handful	O
of	O
uncredited	O
actors	O
appeared	O
in	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Preview	O
,	O
including	O
then-unknown	O
actress	O
Anna	O
Faris	O
,	O
who	O
represented	O
'	O
Channel	O
5	O
 '	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
described	O
as	O
"	O
media	O
,	O
zines	O
,	O
attitude	O
"	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
targeted	O
at	O
Generation	O
X	O
and	O
college-age	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
preview	O
also	O
included	O
its	O
own	O
jazz	B-Device
and	O
pop	O
music	O
loop	O
that	O
played	O
during	O
the	O
installation	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
installed	O
,	O
members	O
accessed	O
MSN	B-Protocol
content	O
through	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
essentially	O
an	O
animated	O
,	O
stylized	O
and	O
streamlined	O
interface	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
an	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
3.0	I-Protocol
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
members	O
signed	O
in	O
,	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
presented	O
with	O
several	O
different	O
'	O
Channels	O
 '	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
categories	O
for	O
the	O
various	O
types	O
of	O
content	O
available	O
on	O
MSN	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
integrated	O
into	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
shortly	O
after	O
its	O
launch	O
was	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
popular	O
Internet	B-Application
Gaming	I-Application
Zone	I-Application
,	O
which	O
later	O
became	O
MSN	B-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interactive	O
multimedia	O
content	O
was	O
presented	O
in	O
a	O
TV-like	O
format	O
,	O
dubbed	O
MSN	B-Protocol
shows	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
'	O
On	O
Stage	O
 '	O
section	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
new	O
destinations	O
supplemented	O
other	O
Microsoft	O
web-based	O
services	O
such	O
as	O
CarPoint	O
and	O
Expedia	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
branded	O
within	O
MSN	B-Protocol
as	O
'	O
Essentials	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
additional	O
'	O
Communicate	O
 '	O
section	O
was	O
based	O
around	O
email	B-Operating_System
,	O
chat	O
rooms	O
(	O
which	O
were	O
branded	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Chat	O
and	O
moved	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
IRC	B-Protocol
protocol	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
newsgroups	B-Application
(	O
which	O
were	O
moved	O
to	O
Usenet	B-Application
from	O
a	O
proprietary	O
architecture	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
'	O
Find	O
 '	O
section	O
was	O
dedicated	O
to	O
searching	O
MSN	B-Protocol
content	O
and	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
Internet	O
;	O
it	O
also	O
provided	O
a	O
calendar	O
of	O
upcoming	O
events	O
and	O
new	O
shows	O
on	O
MSN	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
content	O
made	O
extensive	O
use	O
of	O
multimedia	O
and	O
interactive	O
features	O
,	O
including	O
VBScript	B-Application
and	O
early	O
implementations	O
of	O
Macromedia	B-Operating_System
Shockwave	I-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
(	O
originally	O
called	O
'	O
FutureSplash	B-Operating_System
 '	O
)	O
for	O
animations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
shows	O
approach	O
was	O
unique	O
and	O
innovative	O
,	O
the	O
content	O
was	O
not	O
easily	O
accessible	O
by	O
members	O
with	O
low-end	O
computers	O
and	O
slower	O
dial-up	O
connections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
software	O
was	O
also	O
unstable	O
and	O
would	O
often	O
quit	O
unexpectedly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
'	O
s	O
speed	O
and	O
stability	O
issues	O
,	O
existing	O
MSN	B-Protocol
subscribers	O
were	O
concerned	O
the	O
transition	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
would	O
break	O
up	O
communities	O
that	O
were	O
established	O
via	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Classic	O
message	B-Application
boards	I-Application
and	O
chat	O
rooms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
concerns	O
were	O
confirmed	O
when	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
plans	O
to	O
close	O
the	O
entire	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Classic	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
all	O
these	O
issues	O
,	O
a	O
website	O
called	O
'	O
The	O
Official	O
msNOT	O
Hate	O
Site	O
 '	O
originated	O
as	O
a	O
negative	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
website	O
claimed	O
Microsoft	O
patently	O
ignored	O
feedback	O
from	O
concerned	O
members	O
and	O
censored	O
anyone	O
who	O
spoke	O
out	O
against	O
the	O
upgrade	O
;	O
it	O
further	O
charged	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
handling	O
of	O
the	O
transition	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
was	O
"	O
insensitive	O
and	O
ethically	O
questionable.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
website	O
also	O
mocked	O
the	O
music	O
loop	O
that	O
played	O
during	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
installation	O
process	O
because	O
it	O
repeated	O
the	O
phrase	O
"	O
too	O
stupid	O
to	O
stop.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Ultimately	O
,	O
the	O
ambitious	O
use	O
of	O
web-based	O
and	O
interactive	O
multimedia	O
content	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
during	O
1996	O
and	O
1997	O
proved	O
to	O
be	O
ahead	O
of	O
its	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
service	O
was	O
not	O
as	O
successful	O
as	O
Microsoft	O
initially	O
hoped	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
drawing	O
board	O
for	O
its	O
next	O
MSN	B-Protocol
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
after	O
abandoning	O
the	O
interactive	O
multimedia	O
format	O
,	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
service	O
was	O
again	O
refocused	O
,	O
this	O
time	O
as	O
a	O
more	O
traditional	O
Internet	O
access	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.5	O
(	O
code	O
named	O
'	O
Metro	O
 '	O
and	O
sometimes	O
referred	O
to	O
in	O
marketing	O
materials	O
as	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Premier	O
 '	O
)	O
in	O
late	O
1997	O
,	O
some	O
exclusive	O
MSN	B-Protocol
branded	O
content	O
was	O
still	O
offered	O
through	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
service	O
primarily	O
directed	O
members	O
to	O
traditional	O
text-based	O
websites	O
that	O
anyone	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
could	O
access	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
interactive	O
shows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
with	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.5	O
,	O
email	B-Operating_System
service	O
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
members	O
was	O
moved	O
from	O
a	O
proprietary	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Exchange	I-Application
environment	O
that	O
powered	O
email	B-Operating_System
for	O
both	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Classic	O
and	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
,	O
to	O
standard	O
POP3	B-Protocol
and	O
SMTP	B-Protocol
protocols	I-Protocol
that	O
could	O
be	O
accessed	O
via	O
any	O
Internet	O
email	B-Protocol
program	I-Protocol
,	O
including	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
own	O
Internet	B-Application
Mail	I-Application
and	I-Application
News	I-Application
,	O
which	O
became	O
Outlook	B-Application
Express	I-Application
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
4.0	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
also	O
launched	O
'	O
Friends	O
Online	O
 '	O
,	O
a	O
predecessor	O
to	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
Service	O
that	O
allowed	O
members	O
to	O
add	O
each	O
other	O
as	O
friends	O
,	O
see	O
each	O
other	O
's	O
online	B-Protocol
presence	I-Protocol
and	O
send	O
instant	B-Application
messages	I-Application
to	O
one	O
another	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accompanying	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
in	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.5	O
was	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Quick	O
Launch	O
 '	O
,	O
an	O
icon	O
inside	O
the	O
Windows	O
notification	O
area	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
in	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.0	O
,	O
the	O
menu	O
in	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Quick	O
Launch	O
could	O
be	O
dynamically	O
updated	O
to	O
guide	O
members	O
to	O
updated	O
MSN	B-Protocol
content	O
and	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.6	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
renamed	O
the	O
service	O
'	O
MSN	B-Application
Internet	I-Application
Access	I-Application
 '	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
was	O
abandoned	O
entirely	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
the	O
more	O
familiar	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
new	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
service	O
,	O
MSN	B-Application
Internet	I-Application
Access	I-Application
5.0	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
along	O
with	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
5.0	I-Protocol
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
5.0	O
was	O
largely	O
identical	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.6	O
,	O
aside	O
from	O
offering	O
the	O
newer	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
browser	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
relaunched	O
its	O
Microsoft	B-Protocol
Internet	I-Protocol
Start	I-Protocol
web	O
portal	O
as	O
MSN.com	O
and	O
began	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
offering	O
services	O
under	O
the	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
 '	O
brand	O
name	O
to	O
users	O
of	O
other	O
Internet	O
service	O
providers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Building	O
on	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
's	O
web-based	B-Protocol
email	I-Protocol
service	O
,	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
(	O
which	O
was	O
acquired	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
in	O
December	O
1997	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
Service	O
for	O
instant	B-Application
messaging	I-Application
was	O
launched	O
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
'	O
Friends	O
Online	O
 '	O
service	O
bundled	O
with	O
MSN	B-Protocol
2.5	O
that	O
required	O
an	O
MSN	B-Protocol
membership	O
,	O
anyone	O
with	O
a	O
free	O
Microsoft	O
Passport	O
or	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
account	O
could	O
use	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
in	O
2001	O
(	O
which	O
also	O
brought	O
with	O
it	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
6.0	I-Application
)	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
began	O
to	O
offer	O
content	O
for	O
MSN	B-Application
Internet	I-Application
Access	I-Application
subscribers	O
through	O
a	O
program	O
called	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
program	O
is	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
early	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Program	O
Viewer	O
in	O
that	O
it	O
provides	O
access	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
websites	O
,	O
email	B-Operating_System
,	O
instant	B-Application
messaging	I-Application
,	O
and	O
other	O
content	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
a	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
(	O
an	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
shell	I-Application
)	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Trident	B-Application
layout	I-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
is	O
similar	O
to	O
AOL	B-Protocol
Desktop	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
also	O
has	O
a	O
built-in	O
email	B-Protocol
client	I-Protocol
and	O
provides	O
access	O
to	O
content	O
for	O
AOL	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
the	O
transition	O
to	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
,	O
email	B-Operating_System
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
members	O
was	O
integrated	O
into	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
architecture	O
and	O
could	O
be	O
accessed	O
from	O
the	O
web	O
the	O
same	O
way	O
as	O
any	O
other	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
account	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
provided	O
a	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
for	O
navigating	O
one	O
's	O
@msn	O
.com	O
email	B-Operating_System
inbox	O
and	O
folders	O
,	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
'	O
MSN	B-Operating_System
Mail	I-Operating_System
 '	O
,	O
until	O
the	O
migration	O
of	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
to	O
the	O
Windows	O
Live	O
brand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
subscribers	O
were	O
upgraded	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
version	O
of	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
in	O
2008	O
,	O
but	O
with	O
additional	O
storage	O
capacity	O
compared	O
to	O
free	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
phased	O
out	O
Hotmail	B-Operating_System
and	O
replaced	O
it	O
with	O
Outlook.com	B-Operating_System
in	O
2013	O
,	O
but	O
MSN	B-Protocol
subscribers	O
still	O
receive	O
@msn	O
.com	O
email	B-Operating_System
addresses	O
to	O
use	O
with	O
the	O
service	O
ad-free	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Former	O
members	O
can	O
continue	O
to	O
use	O
those	O
addresses	O
with	O
Outlook.com	B-Operating_System
after	O
ending	O
their	O
subscriptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
early	O
pre-release	O
version	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
,	O
labeled	O
version	O
1.1	O
,	O
was	O
originally	O
included	O
with	O
a	O
development	O
build	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
release	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
version	O
6.0	O
(	O
officially	O
numbered	O
to	O
follow	O
the	O
last	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
older	O
MSN	B-Protocol
5.0	O
software	O
)	O
,	O
was	O
built	O
into	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
with	O
its	O
release	O
in	O
October	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Anyone	O
who	O
used	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
could	O
choose	O
to	O
use	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
regardless	O
of	O
their	O
MSN	B-Protocol
membership	O
status	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
matched	O
the	O
visual	O
style	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
and	O
utilized	O
relatively	O
responsive	O
animations	O
that	O
would	O
not	O
become	O
commonplace	O
in	O
web	B-Application
browsers	I-Application
until	O
HTML5	B-Application
came	O
along	O
several	O
years	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
began	O
referring	O
to	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
software	O
as	O
simply	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
 '	O
beginning	O
with	O
version	O
7	O
,	O
an	O
update	O
that	O
was	O
rolled	O
out	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
halted	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
free	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
software	O
in	O
2002	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
a	O
version	O
only	O
available	O
with	O
MSN	B-Protocol
dial-up	O
and	O
premium	O
subscriptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Versions	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
later	O
than	O
7.5	O
require	O
a	O
paid	O
subscription	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
is	O
possible	O
to	O
use	O
another	O
Internet	O
service	O
provider	O
while	O
accessing	O
content	O
provided	O
through	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
free	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
software	O
also	O
remained	O
available	O
for	O
download	O
for	O
some	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
versions	O
8	O
and	O
9	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
2002	O
and	O
2004	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
version	O
9	O
,	O
the	O
software	O
began	O
requiring	O
a	O
user	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
Microsoft	O
account	O
,	O
though	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
version	O
,	O
it	O
may	O
or	O
may	O
not	O
require	O
an	O
active	O
subscription	O
to	O
other	O
MSN	B-Protocol
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
interface	O
also	O
includes	O
many	O
Flash	B-Operating_System
animations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Version	O
9.5	O
added	O
compatibility	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Version	O
9.6	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
June	O
2008	O
and	O
included	O
revisions	O
necessary	O
for	O
a	O
newer	O
mailbox	O
synchronization	O
technology	O
and	O
to	O
replace	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Parental	O
Controls	O
menu	O
options	O
with	O
links	O
to	O
the	O
newer	O
Windows	O
Live	O
Family	O
Safety	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
began	O
rolling	O
out	O
MSN	B-Protocol
version	O
10	O
in	O
November	O
2009	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Features	O
included	O
full	O
compatibility	O
with	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
an	O
integrated	O
spell	O
checker	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
exclude	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
from	O
the	O
installation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Version	O
10.2	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
including	O
photo	O
email	B-Operating_System
integration	O
with	O
SkyDrive	O
(	O
now	O
OneDrive	B-Application
)	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
include	O
photos	O
or	O
a	O
photo	O
slideshow	O
with	O
a	O
link	O
so	O
others	O
can	O
download	O
a	O
copy	O
for	O
themselves	O
,	O
and	O
customizable	O
toolbar	O
button	O
groups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Version	O
10.5	O
added	O
minor	O
improvements	O
to	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
software	O
;	O
most	O
notably	O
Microsoft	O
changed	O
its	O
user	B-Protocol
agent	I-Protocol
to	O
disguise	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
newer	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
in	O
order	O
to	O
bypass	O
'	O
outdated	O
browser	B-Application
 '	O
warning	O
messages	O
from	O
some	O
websites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
11	O
is	O
the	O
current	O
version	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
April	O
2014	O
and	O
offers	O
compatibility	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
11	I-Application
,	O
adds	O
tabbed	O
browsing	O
,	O
and	O
brings	O
back	O
a	O
'	O
remember	O
me	O
 '	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
software	O
still	O
included	O
an	O
instant	B-Application
messaging	I-Application
client	O
based	O
on	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Messenger	O
service	O
,	O
even	O
though	O
it	O
had	O
been	O
phased	O
out	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
Skype	B-Application
since	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Subsequent	O
releases	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
11	O
included	O
updated	O
email	B-Operating_System
functionality	O
to	O
maintain	O
compatibility	O
with	O
Outlook.com	B-Operating_System
in	O
version	O
11.5	O
,	O
and	O
updated	O
logos	O
to	O
match	O
current	O
MSN	B-Protocol
branding	O
in	O
version	O
11.6	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
for	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
X	I-Application
was	O
a	O
dial-up	O
client	O
interface	O
to	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
pay-for-access	O
online	O
services	O
for	O
Mac	B-Device
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
software	O
was	O
,	O
in	O
some	O
respects	O
,	O
comparable	O
to	O
the	O
AOL	O
dial-up	O
client	O
given	O
its	O
channel-based	O
interface	O
,	O
built-in	O
chat	O
and	O
instant	B-Application
messaging	I-Application
capabilities	O
,	O
parental	O
controls	O
,	O
and	O
ability	O
to	O
accommodate	O
multiple	O
screen	O
names	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
used	O
the	O
Tasman	B-Application
layout	B-Protocol
engine	I-Protocol
made	O
for	O
the	O
Mac	B-Device
edition	O
of	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
5	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
for	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
X	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
continued	O
offering	O
its	O
Microsoft	O
Messenger	O
for	O
Mac	B-Device
software	O
,	O
an	O
instant	O
messaging-only	O
client	O
that	O
required	O
only	O
a	O
free	O
Microsoft	O
account	O
for	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
mentioned	O
previously	O
,	O
Skype	B-Application
replaced	O
Messenger	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
customers	O
with	O
high-speed	O
broadband	O
Internet	O
access	O
,	O
'	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Premium	O
 '	O
is	O
a	O
subscription	O
service	O
provided	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
that	O
combines	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
different	O
Internet	B-Protocol
services	I-Protocol
,	O
along	O
with	O
firewall	B-Application
and	O
anti-virus	B-Application
software	I-Application
provided	O
by	O
McAfee	O
and	O
Spy	O
Sweeper	O
,	O
into	O
a	O
premium	O
version	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Explorer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
order	O
to	O
use	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Premium	O
,	O
users	O
subscribe	O
to	O
the	O
service	O
through	O
get.msn.com	O
or	O
previously	O
by	O
acquiring	O
DSL	O
through	O
one	O
of	O
MSN	B-Protocol
's	O
partners	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Verizon	O
or	O
Qwest	O
(	O
now	O
merged	O
with	O
CenturyLink	B-Application
)	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
or	O
Bell	O
Internet	O
in	O
Canada	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
Premium	O
provided	O
through	O
Verizon	O
was	O
disbanded	O
on	O
March	O
1	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
and	O
users	O
could	O
no	O
longer	O
use	O
MSN	B-Protocol
Premium	O
with	O
Verizon	O
after	O
that	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
extended	O
its	O
MSN	B-Protocol
dial-up	O
Internet	O
access	O
service	O
beyond	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
since	O
1995	O
,	O
partnering	O
with	O
various	O
telecommunications	O
companies	O
to	O
provide	O
service	O
in	O
numerous	O
areas	O
around	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Canada	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
partnered	O
with	O
Bell	O
Sympatico	O
(	O
the	O
ISP	O
division	O
of	O
Bell	O
Canada	O
)	O
creating	O
'	O
Sympatico	O
/	O
MSN	B-Protocol
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Australia	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
originally	O
partnered	O
with	O
Telstra	O
in	O
1995	O
with	O
MSN	B-Protocol
branded	O
locally	O
as	O
'	O
OnAustralia	O
 '	O
;	O
when	O
Microsoft	O
withdrew	O
from	O
the	O
joint	O
venture	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
,	O
Telstra	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
assume	O
100%	O
ownership	O
and	O
rebrand	O
the	O
service	O
as	O
BigPond	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Mexico	O
,	O
MSN	B-Protocol
partnered	O
with	O
Telmex	O
Prodigy	O
creating	O
'	O
Prodigy	O
/	O
MSN	B-Protocol
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
affiliation	O
with	O
Xtra	O
,	O
Telecom	O
New	O
Zealand	O
's	O
Internet	O
provider	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
XtraMSN	B-Application
ended	O
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Italy	O
the	O
sign-up	O
was	O
done	O
through	O
an	O
800	O
-	O
(	O
toll-free	O
)	O
phone	O
number	O
which	O
assigned	O
to	O
the	O
user	O
PC	O
an	O
internal	O
IP	O
address	O
of	O
SITA-NET	O
(	O
Société	O
internationale	O
de	O
télécommunication	O
aéronautique	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
IP	O
range	O
57.0.0.0/8	O
,	O
giving	O
the	O
user	O
access	O
to	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
SITA	O
network	O
equipment	O
(	O
so	O
,	O
not	O
only	O
the	O
SITA-managed	O
server	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
MSN	B-Protocol
account	O
registration	O
process	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MSN	B-Protocol
has	O
many	O
offices	O
worldwide	O
for	O
national	O
customer	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
set	O
up	O
a	O
research	O
and	O
development	O
center	O
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
China	O
,	O
based	O
in	O
Shanghai	B-Device
's	O
Zizhu	O
Science	O
Park	O
,	O
which	O
hosts	O
technical	O
support	O
for	O
MSN	B-Protocol
services	O
.	O
</s>
