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MS Plans Windows Live Answer Service

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

May 8, 2006, 2:31 PM

Microsoft confirmed Friday that it plans to debut a new Windows Live service in the coming months that would allow users to ask questions and receive responses from fellow users. Additionally, the answers to these questions would be searchable.

Called Windows Live QnA, the service will allow for users to vote for the best answers and respondents, which would help users decide which answers are likely the most reputable and who has consistently provided high-quality answers.

"Windows Live QnA gives us an opportunity to showcase unique knowledge - provided, filtered, rated and approved by human beings - not available anywhere else," Windows Live community program manager Betsy Aoki said. "We want to build the biggest, friendliest and most helpful community of smart humans the world has ever seen."

The service is similar to Yahoo! Answers, which launched in December, and Google Answers, which also debuted last year. All services follow basically the same premise.

"[Windows Live QnA] is currently being tested internally at Microsoft and will be initially be available in an invite-only public beta," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews. Those interested in the beta can sign up from the Windows Live Ideas page.

Ultimately, Microsoft plans to integrate the feature with Windows Live Search. Thus, this Windows Live service will eventually piggyback on top of another existing Live feature, rather than exist as a stand-alone product.

Sources have told BetaNews previously that many of the Windows Live projects currently in development are not intended to stay as standalone offerings.

Add a Comment (11 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By ds0934

posted May 10, 2006 - 12:05 AM

Hello, welcome to Live Answering Service, please ask your question...

I'm having a problem with my...

I'm sorry, did you enter your subscription maintenance contract number? If not, press 2, otherwise press 9 for more options...

(press 9)

(music plays)

(music plays)

(click - hangs up)

Score: 0

By manzanita

edited May 9, 2006 - 3:19 AM

Hello,
I'm using the New Windows Live Messenger, but I can not call from my PC to a phone because I live in United Arab Emirates. I'm french. Tell we why? We have to live in France or USA tu use this new service?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 9, 2006 - 6:07 PM

Hello.
This is not a microsoft Support forum. Since the product is still in beta, it is also unlikely that many of use have even seen it, much less be able to offer advice concerning it.

Your questions would do much better posed to Microsoft.

Score: 0

By lapytsh

edited May 9, 2006 - 8:38 AM

I hope to see it in french very soon !

Antoine
Microsoft MVS

http://www.lapytsh.com

Score: 0

By TheBeastH6

posted May 8, 2006 - 8:43 PM

Cute.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited May 8, 2006 - 3:36 PM

Wow...do people actually use these things? I looked at them all.

This weeks featured user on Yahoo? "Yarnlady needsyarn". Isn't that the ginchy-est?

Google charges $2.50 ($2.00 of which is refundable, all you gotta do is tell 'em you don't like the answer...twice.) mmm...ease of use....what?

And Windows Live! is still in beta. (anything I say about it today could be wrong tomorrow)

Color me "not impressed."

Score: 0

By Intrusive_Rogue

posted May 8, 2006 - 3:15 PM

:twirls finger around in the air:

Just playing catch-up. Nothing new to see here, please move along..lol.

Score: 0

By Das mod

posted May 8, 2006 - 2:41 PM

sounds an awful lot like yahoo's service

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 8, 2006 - 3:30 PM

Way to read the article, Das mod!

10 points for restating what was spelled out for us in the article itself.

Yeah, I know, you're just providing a service to all the others who don't read them, right? ;)

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted May 8, 2006 - 2:44 PM

On the ball!

"The service is similar to Yahoo! Answers, which launched in December, and Google Answers, which also debuted last year. All services follow basically the same premise."

Score: 0

By Bogunch

posted May 8, 2006 - 5:01 PM

Another testament to our fine education system!

Score: 0

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