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MSN is a web portal and related collection of Internet services and apps provided by Microsoft. The main home page provides news, weather, sports, finance and other content curated from hundreds of different sources that Microsoft has partnered with.[2] MSN is based in the United States and offers international versions of its portal for dozens of countries around the world.[3] Its dedicated app is currently available for iOS and Android systems.

Key Information

The first version of MSN originally launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the release of Windows 95,[4] as a subscription-based dial-up online service called The Microsoft Network; it later became an Internet service provider named MSN Dial-Up Internet Access. Also around this time, the company launched a new web portal named Microsoft Internet Start and set it as the default home page of Internet Explorer, its web browser. In 1998, Microsoft renamed and moved this web portal to the domain name msn.com, where it has remained since.[5]

Microsoft subsequently used the "MSN" brand name for a wide variety of products and services over the years, notably MSN Hotmail (later Outlook.com), MSN Messenger (which was once synonymous with "MSN" in Internet slang), its web search engine (which became Bing), and several other rebranded and discontinued services. In 2014, Microsoft reworked and relaunched the MSN website and suite of apps offered.[6] Following a partial rebranding of the website to Microsoft Start beginning in 2021, the company reversed course in 2024 and kept "MSN" as the name of the website.[7]

History

[edit]

Microsoft Internet Start

[edit]
MSN.com in Internet Explorer 1.0 on its initial launch day, August 24, 1995
MSN.com in October 1996, offering its "Custom Start Page" feature

From 1995 to 1998, the MSN.com domain was primarily used by Microsoft to promote The Microsoft Network as an online service and Internet service provider. During that period of time, MSN.com also offered a "Custom Start Page" and an Internet tutorial, but Microsoft's major public web portal of that era was known as "Microsoft Internet Start" and was located at home.microsoft.com.

Internet Start served as the default home page for Internet Explorer and offered basic information such as news, weather, sports, stocks, entertainment reports, links to other websites on the Internet, articles by Microsoft staff members, and software updates for Windows. Microsoft's original news website, MSNBC.com, which launched in 1996 (and was later divested by Microsoft as NBCNews.com), was also tied closely to the Internet Start portal.

MSN.com

[edit]
The MSN logo changed several times as the service evolved throughout its history (top row from left: 1995, 1996, 1998; and bottom row from left: 2000, 2009, 2014).

In 1998, the largely underutilized "MSN.com" domain name was combined with Microsoft Internet Start and reinvented as both a web portal and as the brand for a family of sites produced inside Microsoft's Interactive Media Group. The new website put MSN in direct competition with sites such as Yahoo!, Excite, and Go Network. Because the new format opened up MSN's content to the world for free, the Internet service provider and subscription service were renamed to "MSN Internet Access" at that time (that service eventually became known as MSN Dial-Up Internet Access).[5]

The relaunched MSN.com contained a whole family of sites, including original content, channels that were carried over from 'web shows' that were part of Microsoft's MSN 2.0 experiment with its Internet service provider in 1996–97, and new features that were rapidly added. MSN.com became the successor to the default Internet Explorer start page, as all of the previous "Microsoft Internet Start" website was merged with MSN.com.[5]

Some of the original websites that Microsoft launched during that era remained active in some form for decades. Microsoft Investor, a business news and investments service that was once produced in conjunction with CNBC, became MSN Money;[8][9][10] CarPoint, an automobile comparison and shopping service, became MSN Autos; and the Internet Gaming Zone, a website offering online casual games, became MSN Games. Other websites since divested by Microsoft include the travel website Expedia, the online magazine Slate, and the local event and city search website Sidewalk.com.

In the late 1990s, Microsoft collaborated with many other service providers, as well as other Microsoft departments, to expand the range of MSN's services. Some examples include MSN adCenter, MSN Shopping (affiliated with eBay, PriceGrabber and Shopping.com), and the Encarta encyclopedia with various levels of access to information.

Since then, MSN.com remained a popular destination, launching many new services and content sites. MSN's Hotmail and Messenger services were promoted from the MSN.com portal, which provided a central place for all of MSN's content. MSN Search (which became Bing), a dedicated search engine, launched in 1999. The single sign-in service for Microsoft's online services, Microsoft Passport (later Microsoft account), also launched across all MSN services in 1999.

The MSN.com portal and related group of services under the "MSN" umbrella remained largely the same in the early 2000s. This era also saw the introduction of the MSN butterfly logo on February 14, 2000, which went on to define the brand of all MSN services from that point forward.[11]

The sports section of the MSN portal was ESPN.com from 2001 to 2004, and FoxSports.com from 2004 to 2014.[12][13] MSN had an exclusive partnership with MSNBC.com for news content from 1996 until 2012, when Microsoft sold its remaining stake in msnbc.com to NBCUniversal and the website was renamed NBCNews.com. At the time, MSN launched "MSN News", an in-house news operation.[14]

As of May 2005, MSN.com was the second most visited portal website in the United States with a share of 23.2 percent, behind Yahoo! which held a majority.[15]

MSN released a preview of an updated home page and logo on November 3, 2009.[16] It was originally expected to be widely available to over 100 million U.S. customers by early 2010.[17][18] MSN rolled out the newer logo, together with a redesign of the overall website, on December 25, 2009.[19][20]

In 2012, MSN announced on its blog that it would be unveiling a new version of the MSN.com home page on October 26, exclusively for Windows 8, saying that the new version would be "clean, simple, and built for touch".[21] Microsoft said it would be more app-like due to the speed of Internet Explorer 10. More new features included "Flip Ahead", which allowed users to swipe from one article to the next. MSN for Windows 8 also had new deals with the AP and Reuters.[22]

Rebranding of services

[edit]
Main article: Windows Live

Many of MSN's services were reorganized in 2005 and 2006 under a new brand name that Microsoft championed at the time, Windows Live. This move was part of Microsoft's strategy to improve its online offerings using the Windows brand name. The company also overhauled its online software and services due to increasing competition from rivals such as Yahoo! and Google. The new name was introduced one service at a time. The group of Windows Live services used Web 2.0 technology to offer features and functionality through a web browser that were traditionally only available through dedicated software programs.

Some of the MSN services affected by the rebranding included MSN Hotmail, which became Windows Live Hotmail (now Outlook.com); MSN Messenger, which became Windows Live Messenger (later integrated into Skype); MSN Search, which became Live Search (now known as Bing); MSN Virtual Earth, which became Live Search Maps (now Bing Maps); MSN Spaces, which became Windows Live Spaces; MSN Alerts, which became Windows Live Alerts; and MSN Groups, which became Windows Live Groups. Some other services, such as MSN Direct, remained a part of the MSN family without transitioning to Windows Live.

Following the launch of Windows Live, the MSN brand took on a different focus. MSN became primarily an online content provider of news, entertainment, and common interest topics through its web portal, MSN.com, while Windows Live provided most of Microsoft's online software and services. In 2012, Microsoft began to phase out the Windows Live brand, referring to each service separately by its individual brand name without any "Windows" prefix or association.[23]

Website redesign

[edit]
MSN.com in September 2014, when its significant website redesign launched

Microsoft launched a completely rewritten and redesigned MSN website, making use of the company's modern design language, on September 30, 2014.[6] The new MSN portal featured a new version of the logo that followed a style similar to other contemporary Microsoft products. The website no longer offered original content, instead employing editors to repurpose existing content from partners at popular and trusted organizations. Much of the existing content offered on MSN was eliminated as the website was simplified into a new home page and categories, some of which had corresponding apps:[24]

  • News: The latest news headlines and articles from a variety of hand-picked sources (synced with the MSN app).
  • Weather: Current weather conditions, forecasts, maps, news, and traffic (synced with the MSN Weather app).
  • Entertainment: TV, movies, music, and celebrity news, plus theater showtimes, tickets, and TV listings (based on the former Bing service).
  • Play: The MSN Games website offers online casual games (previously named "Internet Gaming Zone" and "MSN Gaming Zone").
  • Sports: Up-to-the-minute scores, standings, and headlines from leagues worldwide (synced with the now-discontinued MSN Sports app).
  • Money: Stock market tickers, watchlists, personal finance, real estate, investments, and currency converter (synced with the MSN Money app).
  • Lifestyle: Headlines, features, and other content related to style, home & garden, family, smart living, relationships, and horoscopes.
  • Health & Fitness: Tools and information about weight management, strength, exercise, nutrition, medicine, and more.
  • Food & Drink: Recipes, cooking tips, news from chefs, cocktails, and shopping lists for food and drink items.
  • Travel: Destinations, trip ideas, hotel search, flight search, flight status, and arrivals and departures (previously based on Farecast).
  • Autos: Research and buying advice, auto-related news, information for enthusiasts, and coverage of auto shows worldwide.[25]
  • Video: Trending and viral videos, comedy and pop culture, and videos from other MSN categories (integrated with search from Bing Videos).

The top of the home page in 2014 provided access to Microsoft services Bing, Outlook.com, Skype, Office Online, OneNote, OneDrive, Bing Maps, and Groove Music, as well as popular social media services Facebook and Twitter.[6] Signing into MSN with a Microsoft account allowed for personalized content to appear and to be synchronized across devices on the website and in the corresponding apps. The redesign of the website led to the closure of MSN's longtime personalized home page service "My MSN", which was made up of customized RSS feeds, as the new website no longer supported user-specified RSS content. However, it added some customizability, allowing each category on the home page to be reordered or hidden.

With the 2014 relaunch, MSN began supporting responsive design and eliminated the need for a separate mobile website. The redesign of MSN proved positive and helped increase traffic with an additional 10 million daily visitors after two months.[26]

In 2021, Microsoft began phasing out MSN in favor of Microsoft Start, with an updated design, news pages being moved to Start, and ads for the website appearing on the homepage. This was reversed in November 2024, with the Microsoft Start page redirecting back to MSN.[7] Microsoft also brought back the MSN app in November 2024.[27]

Apps

[edit]
MSN
Other names
  • Bing News (2012–2014)
  • MSN News (2014–2018)
  • Microsoft News (2018–2021)
  • Microsoft Start (2021–2024)
DeveloperMicrosoft AI
Initial release26 October 2012; 12 years ago (2012-10-26)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android32.4 (Build 43091600.6) / 16 September 2025; 35 days ago (2025-09-16)[28][29]
iOS32.4 (Build 43091600.1) / 17 September 2025; 34 days ago (2025-09-17)[30]
Windows4.55.62231.0[31]
Operating systemWindows, iOS, Android
TypeNews aggregator
WebsiteOfficial website
App for Windows
App for iOS
App for Android
MSN Weather
Other namesBing Weather (2012–2014)
DeveloperMicrosoft
Initial release26 October 2012; 12 years ago (2012-10-26)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android30.2 (Build 24121200.5) / 12 December 2024; 10 months ago (2024-12-12)[32]
Windows4.54.63026.0 / 1 August 2025; 2 months ago (2025-08-01)[33]
Operating system
Discontinued
Websitewww.msn.com/weather
MSN Money
DeveloperMicrosoft
Initial release7 February 2012; 13 years ago (2012-02-07)
Stable release
4.53.63386.0 / 6 December 2024; 10 months ago (2024-12-06)[34]
Operating systemWindows, Android
WebsiteOfficial website
App for Windows
App for Android

The MSN apps provide users information from sources that publish to MSN. Microsoft launched these apps along with the 2014 redesign of the MSN web portal, rebranding many of the Bing apps that originally shipped with Windows 8 and Windows Phone in 2012. News, Weather, Sports, Money, and Travel first shipped with Windows 8, while Health & Fitness and Food & Drink first appeared in Windows 8.1.[35][36] In December 2014, the apps became available across all the other major mobile device platforms as well: iOS, Android, and Fire OS.[37][38][39][40][41] The apps have since been limited to fewer platforms.

The apps allowed users a reasonable amount of freedom to decide which sources provide information. Each app has its own color code that was used on the Windows live tile and internally. Originally, each app brought a unified experience with the MSN website and synchronized preferences across devices.

There are currently three apps: the MSN app, MSN Weather, and MSN Money.[42] In July 2015, Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, and Travel apps on all platforms, and that they would not be bundled with Windows 10; those apps, and Sports, are no longer offered.[43]

MSN app

[edit]

The MSN app (on iOS and Android, alternatively named Microsoft News on Windows) is a news aggregator and service that features top news headlines and articles chosen by editors and automated systems. It includes news sections for top stories, U.S., world, money, technology, entertainment, opinion, sports, and crime, along with other miscellaneous stories. The app allows users to set their own personalized favorite topics and sources, receive notifications of breaking news through alerts, filter preferred news sources, and alter font sizes to make articles easier to read.[44]

Development of the initial app began in May 2012, ahead of the Windows 8 Release Preview, and then it officially launched alongside Windows 8 on October 26, 2012. The app was originally named "Bing News" at the time of its launch in 2012, rebranded "MSN News" in 2014, again renamed "Microsoft News" in 2018,[45] and once again relaunched as "Microsoft Start" on iOS and Android in 2021.[46] In November 2024, Microsoft decided to retire the "Microsoft Start" branding and bring back the "MSN" name for the app. According to Windows Central, the company stated that this update was meant to simplify branding while keeping all existing functionalities unchanged.[27]

Originally, the app included an RSS feed, but that capability was removed; Microsoft currently only allows users to subscribe to specified news sources, thereby curating news.[47] The app used the chaseable live tile feature introduced in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update; if a user clicked on the Microsoft News Start menu tile when a particular story is shown, the user would see a link to that story at the top of the app when it launches.[48]

MSN Weather app

[edit]

The MSN Weather app (originally named "Bing Weather") shows weather from a user's current location or any other location worldwide, and it allows users to define their favorite places, which will synchronize back to the Microsoft Start and across devices. Users can pin Weather tiles to the Start menu to see local weather conditions from multiple locations at a glance. It also offers satellite maps and has information regarding ski resorts.[49] The app receives its weather conditions and forecasts from a variety of sources internationally.[50] Weather uses weather conditions as the background, making it the only app that does not have a light/dark switch in Windows 10. Weather is not available for iOS; however, it came preinstalled on the Nokia 215 phone from Microsoft Mobile that ran Series 30+; it was the only feature phone to have the app built-in.[51]

MSN Money app

[edit]

The MSN Money app (originally a website named "MoneyCentral", and later "MSN MoneyCentral", and then "MSN Money" in the 2000s, prior to the app being relaunched in 2014 as a rebranding of "Bing Finance") allows users to set up lists of publicly listed companies to watch, follow certain corporations and receive stock updates, get the latest headlines regarding international markets, view real-time trading figures with a 30-minute delay, track their own personal finances, calculate mortgages, get information on bonds and other financial assets, and convert currency.[52][53][54]

Discontinued apps

[edit]

The MSN Food & Drink app (originally named "Bing Food & Drink") was a recipe app that offered news related to foods and drinks, a personal shopping list that synchronized across devices and the web, and a wine encyclopedia that contained information on over 1.5 million bottles of wine, over 3.3 million tasting notes, and hundreds of cocktail recipes.[55] Users could control the app hands-free, add their own recipes from physical cookbooks or personal recipes by snapping a photo, add notes to recipes, and sort the recipes into collections.[56] The app also listed information from famous chefs according to their style of cuisine.[57]

The MSN Health & Fitness app (originally named "Bing Health & Fitness") allowed users to track their calorie intake, look up nutritional information for hundreds of thousands of different foods, use a built-in GPS tracker, view step-by-step workouts and exercises with images and videos, check symptoms for various health conditions, and synchronize their health data to third-party devices such as activity trackers.[58][59][60] MSN Health & Fitness formerly connected data with the Microsoft HealthVault, but it started using a Microsoft account with MSN's own cloud service to synchronize data when it was rebranded from Bing to MSN.[61][62] The app was not related to Microsoft's Xbox Fitness or Microsoft Health (the companion app for the Microsoft Band), despite being similar in function.[63]

The MSN Travel app (originally named "Bing Travel") was a travel search engine that allowed users to book hotels and flights, aggregated travel-related news, and offered detailed information about thousands of travel destinations.[64] Data in the app was powered by various travel websites, including Expedia, formerly owned by Microsoft.[65] Other features included finding information on local restaurants, viewing pictures (including panoramas) and historical data about destinations, and reading reviews by previous travelers.[66] If the user was signed in, Cortana could track flights and get hotel information through the app.[67] MSN Travel was the only app in the suite that was exclusive to Windows. The app was discontinued in September 2015, but remained on the website for several years after that.[68] The name "MSN Travel" was previously associated with Farecast, an airfare prediction website that Microsoft acquired in 2008.

The MSN Sports app (originally named "Bing Sports") displayed various sports scores and standings from hundreds of leagues around the world, as well as aggregated sports-related articles and news headlines.[69][70][71][72] Sports also allowed the user to view slideshows and photo galleries, look up information about individual players and fantasy leagues, and set and track their favorite teams by selecting various topics from the menu.[73][74] It also powered various predictive features within Microsoft's Cortana virtual assistant.[75] It was discontinued on July 20, 2021, but remained on the website.[76]

The MSN Esports Hub[77] was a Bing intelligence AI curated web app launched for the growing esports industry in 2020. Users could watch integrated streams from YouTube or Twitch. Microsoft's advanced AI called "Watch For", the algorithm originally made for Microsoft's Mixer was an artificial intelligence that used computer vision algorithms on livestreams so that it can alert the viewer of significant moments. This algorithm was implemented in the MSN Esports Hub.[78][77] Users could also check a calendar for dates of upcoming esport events and tournaments. After the creation of the MSN Esports Hub, Microsoft acquired esports tournament platform "Smash.gg".[79] Supported games included League of Legends, Valorant, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, Overwatch, Fortnite Battle Royale, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, FIFA, Gears of War, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The service was replaced by Start.gg.

Older mobile apps

[edit]

Microsoft first offered content from its MSN web portal on mobile devices in the early 2000s, through a service called Pocket MSN (in line with its Pocket PC products of the era) and later renamed MSN Mobile. The original MSN Mobile software was preloaded on many cell phones and PDAs, and usually provided access to legacy MSN services like blogs (MSN Spaces), email (Hotmail), instant messaging (MSN Messenger), and web search (now called Bing). Some wireless carriers charged a premium to access it.[citation needed] As many former MSN properties were spun off to Bing, Windows Live, and other successors in the late 2000s, the Microsoft Mobile Services division took over the development of mobile apps related to those services.

In the meantime, Microsoft's MSN apps took on a more content-related focus, as did the web portal itself. Previous versions of MSN apps that were bundled with Windows Mobile and early versions of Windows Phone,[80] as well as MSN apps for Android and iOS devices in the early 2010s, were primarily repositories for news articles found on MSN.com.[81][82][83] Other earlier MSN mobile apps included versions of MSN Weather and MSN Money for Windows Mobile 6.5,[84][85][86] MSN Money Stocks, and a men's magazine called "MSN OnIt" for Windows Phone 7.[87][88]

After Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone division, Microsoft also started bundling MSN services with its Nokia-branded feature phones, though the only supported model was the Nokia 215.[89][90][51] In addition to these apps, Microsoft developed a separate set of mobile apps specifically for MSN China.

International

[edit]

Microsoft's world headquarters is in the United States, so the main MSN website is based there. However, MSN has offered various international versions of its portal since its inception in 1995 for dozens of countries around the world.[3] A list of international MSN affiliates is available on a web page named MSN Worldwide Archived July 9, 2025, at the Wayback Machine Archived July 9, 2025, at the Wayback Machine.

Following the redesign and relaunch of the MSN website in 2014, most international MSN websites share the same layout as the U.S. version and are largely indistinguishable from it, aside from their content. There were two exceptions: ninemsn, a longtime partnership between Microsoft and the Nine Network in Australia that launched in 1997 (Microsoft sold its stake in the venture in 2013 and ended its co-branding with Nine in 2016);[91] and MSN China, an entirely customized version of MSN for China (Microsoft discontinued the portal in 2016, replacing it with a page that links to a number of other Chinese websites).[92]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

MSN

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
MSN, formerly known as The Microsoft Network, is a and digital content service owned and operated by Corporation, providing personalized access to news, entertainment, weather, finance, and lifestyle information across multiple platforms. Launched in August 1995 as part of the release, it began as a subscription-based dial-up online service offering proprietary content and , quickly growing to over 1 million members in more than 190 countries within its first seven months. Over the years, MSN has evolved significantly from its origins as a competitor to services like and , transitioning in the late 1990s to a web-based portal integrated with the broader . By 1996, Microsoft introduced a web version of MSN, expanding its reach with content like online games, educational resources, and interactive events, while forming partnerships to enhance its ecosystem. This shift marked MSN's role in 's broader internet strategy, incorporating services such as email (via Hotmail, later Outlook), instant messaging (MSN Messenger, succeeded by ), and search integration with Bing. In its current form, MSN serves as an AI-powered hub for curated, real-time content, available through the MSN.com website, mobile apps on and Android, and integrations in Microsoft Edge browser and Windows operating systems. Key features include customizable feeds for and videos, tools for stock tracking and weather updates, and newsletters like MSN Daily, emphasizing user personalization via accounts. With a focus on inspiration and productivity, MSN continues to adapt to , delivering tailored experiences on PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.

History

Origins as Dial-Up Service

The Microsoft Network (MSN), originally conceived as an online information service to complement 's expanding software ecosystem, launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the retail release of Windows 95. Bundled directly with the operating system, MSN was designed as a proprietary dial-up service, providing users with seamless access through an integrated icon on the Windows desktop, eliminating the need for separate installation. This integration leveraged Windows 95's 32-bit architecture, allowing for multitasking and support for up to 10 simultaneous network clients and protocols, marking 's entry into the consumer online space amid the growing popularity of personal computing. At its inception, MSN focused on delivering a suite of basic online services via dial-up connections, including email through an integrated Microsoft Exchange-based inbox, bulletin boards for discussions, chat rooms for real-time interaction, file libraries for downloads, and curated news content. These features were accessible via a Windows-like graphical interface, with support for multimedia elements such as publications and games, though initial content was limited to proprietary offerings rather than full Internet access. Dial-up infrastructure relied on standard modems compatible with Windows 95's UniModem system, which supported over 200 models and protocols like PPP and SLIP for reliable connectivity; typical connection speeds were constrained by contemporary hardware to 28.8 kbps or lower, using local phone lines and the Telephony API (TAPI) for automated dialing and hardware detection. To expand coverage, MSN established partnerships with regional Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunications firms to set up points of presence (POPs) across the United States and select international markets, ensuring broader geographic reach for subscribers. MSN quickly gained traction due to its bundling with the widely anticipated Windows 95, which sold millions of units in its first months, though initial subscriber growth was capped at 500,000 to manage infrastructure demands. By late November 1995, enrollments exceeded 525,000, and the cap was lifted, propelling the service past 1 million members by March 1996 and positioning it as one of the fastest-growing online services at the time. This growth occurred in a competitive landscape dominated by America Online (AOL), which boasted over 1 million subscribers by mid-1995, and CompuServe, both of which offered more established Internet gateways; MSN differentiated itself through its tight Windows integration but faced criticism for its walled-garden approach and slower adoption of open web standards.

Transition to Web Portal

In late 1996, pivoted MSN from its proprietary dial-up service to an open , reflecting the rapid growth of the public and the need to compete with emerging free online destinations like Yahoo. On September 30, 1996, the company unveiled a "reborn" MSN designed to be more web-friendly, emphasizing easier access to internet content without requiring a subscription for basic use. This transition built on the earlier dial-up foundation launched in 1995 but marked a strategic shift toward an ad-supported model to attract a broader audience beyond the 1.6 million paid subscribers at the time. The new MSN.com debuted as a free and content hub, serving as a centralized gateway for news, entertainment, and navigation tools, while integrating seamlessly with as its default homepage. Early features included a customizable start page, allowing users to personalize their homepage with selected links, channels, and content modules for a tailored browsing experience. This integration with Microsoft's browser helped drive adoption, positioning MSN.com as a key entry point for Windows users exploring the web. Search functionality was introduced via MSN Search in September 1998, initially powered by third-party engines like Inktomi to provide web results directly within the portal. To expand its ecosystem, made key acquisitions and service launches during this period. In December 1997, the company acquired Hotmail, the world's largest free web-based provider with over 8.5 million users, for approximately $450 million, rebranding it as MSN Hotmail to bolster the portal's communication offerings. This move addressed the limitations of the dial-up system and accelerated the shift to web-accessible services. In July 1999, MSN Messenger was launched as a free client, further enhancing real-time interaction and tying into the portal's growing suite of tools. As and free service providers gained traction in the late 1990s, MSN's dial-up subscriber base began to decline, prompting a full pivot to an ad-supported web model where revenue came from display ads, sponsored content, and partnerships rather than access fees. By 1998, had consolidated its "Microsoft Start" page into MSN.com, closing much of the proprietary network to focus exclusively on open-web delivery. This adaptation not only sustained MSN's relevance but also established it as a major player in the evolving online landscape, with millions of daily unique visitors by the end of the decade.

Rebranding and Expansions

In 2005, undertook a significant effort for its MSN services, transitioning many offerings to the sub-brand to emphasize integrated, web-based experiences accessible across devices. This shift, influenced by the arrival of Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie in late 2004, aimed to unify disparate services under a cohesive identity while introducing a refreshed visual style, including updates to the MSN logo's butterfly motif to better align with evolving digital ecosystems. The rebranding coincided with expansions into multimedia content to position MSN as a comprehensive portal. In October 2003, Microsoft launched MSN Video, an ad-supported service offering on-demand video clips, news, and to capitalize on growing adoption. Similarly, MSN Music debuted in April 2001 as a streaming and download platform, evolving by September 2004 to sell individual tracks and albums at competitive prices, directly challenging emerging digital music rivals. By November 2006, MSN Music integrated with the newly introduced platform, allowing seamless song purchases and subscriptions through the Zune Marketplace to enhance cross-device music access. A key component of the Windows Live initiative, launched progressively from 2005 to 2009, included rebranded communication and social tools. Windows Live Messenger, succeeding MSN Messenger, officially released on June 19, 2006, with enhanced features like offline messaging and video calls. Complementing this, Spaces—evolving from the 2004 MSN Spaces—launched in August 2006 as a blogging and social networking platform, enabling users to share photos, custom themes, and profiles in a bid to rival emerging sites like . These services solidified MSN's role in social connectivity during the mid-2000s. During 2005-2008, MSN reached its as a , attracting over 465 million unique monthly users worldwide by mid-2006, driven by its blend of , search, and features. This scale positioned MSN as a direct competitor to Yahoo and portals, with overhauling its in 2004 and launching ad programs in 2005 to capture market share in sponsored listings and content delivery. By 2012, completed its pivot away from legacy infrastructure, closing the MSN Premium dial-up service through Verizon on March 1, marking the full transition to free, broadband-centric offerings and ending an era that began with paid access in the .

Recent Developments

In 2014, unveiled a major redesign of the MSN homepage, aligning it with the emerging design principles of to create a more streamlined and personalized . The update transformed MSN into a hybrid portal and web-based desktop, featuring modular sections that users could customize by adding, removing, or rearranging content tiles focused on topics like , entertainment, and weather. This personalization drew from partnerships with publishers such as and , allowing content to sync across devices via companion apps for and Android. A new "Services Stripe" integrated quick-access icons for tools like Outlook and , emphasizing MSN's role as a central hub. By 2021, initiated a effort, shifting much of MSN's and content feed to the newly launched platform, which aimed to deliver tailored , weather, and lifestyle information across Windows, web, , and Android. This transition consolidated MSN's core functionalities into with gradual integration through 2023. In November 2024, fully reverted to the MSN brand, introducing a refreshed featuring a stylized butterfly and replacing across platforms to restore user familiarity. In 2023, MSN faced significant content disruptions stemming from its reliance on AI-generated articles powered by the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership, resulting in the publication of inaccurate, insensitive, and fabricated stories that drew widespread criticism. Notable incidents included an AI-produced poll speculating on a woman's death, which angered and led to accusations of reputational harm, as well as bizarre travel guides recommending visits to food banks and erroneous claims like U.S. President falling asleep during a speech. Publishers and users highlighted ethical concerns over low-quality outputs from syndicated sources, prompting to remove offending articles and attribute issues to third-party providers rather than fully unsupervised AI. These challenges were partially resolved through the integration of Bing Chat, 's AI built on models but customized for safer, more reliable responses, which helped refine and reduce hallucinations in MSN's news aggregation. Building on these advancements, continued to enhance AI capabilities in its ecosystem starting in 2024. Post-2020, MSN and its integrated platforms demonstrated robust user engagement, with global monthly visits surpassing 300 million by mid-2025, reflecting sustained growth amid digital transformations and AI enhancements. This scale underscores MSN's enduring role as a key entry point for Microsoft's , driven by personalized delivery and cross-platform .

Web Portal

Core Features

The MSN web portal's homepage features a dynamic, modular layout that aggregates key information streams, including customizable tiles for top news headlines, local forecasts, and real-time updates, allowing users to prioritize content based on their preferences. This design enables seamless navigation through a grid-based interface where modules can be resized, rearranged, or hidden to suit individual workflows, enhancing efficiency for daily information consumption. Personalization is a cornerstone of the MSN experience, achieved primarily through integration with a , which unlocks tailored content feeds by analyzing user-selected interests such as news topics or location-based data. Upon , users can adjust settings to curate a unique homepage, where algorithms recommend and prioritize articles, updates, and summaries aligned with past interactions and explicit choices. This account-linked customization extends across devices, ensuring consistency in feed whether accessed via or compatible apps. Search functionality on MSN is deeply integrated with Bing, providing a prominent search bar at the top of the homepage that supports text-based queries, image search, and voice-assisted input through Bing's built-in capabilities. While Cortana as a standalone voice assistant was retired in 2023, its legacy influences persist in evolved forms like the "Hey, Copilot" wake word for AI-driven navigation in ecosystems, such as Windows PCs. Accessibility features ensure broad , with support for high-contrast modes that enhance by applying distinct color schemes across the interface, configurable through browser or operating system settings. MSN also complies with web standards for compatibility, enabling tools like Narrator or third-party readers to interpret dynamic modules, navigation elements, and personalized feeds audibly for users with visual impairments. Security is bolstered by mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) for accounts linked to MSN, requiring a second verification step—such as a code sent via app, , or —beyond password entry to access personalized features and prevent unauthorized access. This measure, part of broader security protocols, applies to all and helps safeguard user data across the portal's dynamic content ecosystem.

Content Categories

MSN.com offers a wide array of content categories designed to cater to diverse user interests, drawing from aggregated and curated sources to provide timely and relevant information. The primary categories include , which features breaking stories and analysis sourced from wire services such as and the [Associated Press](/page/Associated Press) (AP); Entertainment, encompassing videos, celebrity updates, and media reviews; , with live scores, game highlights, and athlete profiles; , offering stock trackers, financial news, and investment insights; , providing localized forecasts and climate updates; , including destination guides and booking tips; and Gaming, covering reviews, news, and industry trends. MSN aggregates content from various major media outlets, including for in-depth reporting. Since 2020, much of the news content on MSN has been generated and curated using , with human oversight to ensure quality; Microsoft maintains an AI content aligned with its Responsible AI Standard for transparency and . However, this approach has faced criticism for occasionally syndicating inaccurate or misleading information. emphasizes quality and variety, with algorithmic recommendations powered by that analyze user behavior, preferences, and browsing history to surface personalized suggestions, improving engagement without overwhelming the interface. This draws briefly from broader portal mechanics to tailor feeds effectively. In addition to text-based articles, MSN prominently features formats like videos for dynamic storytelling—such as clips and event recaps—and slideshow galleries that present visual narratives, including daily briefs on current events and thematic collections like photo essays on hotspots. These formats prioritize user-friendly consumption, with embedded videos and captioned sequences optimized for quick . Ad integration models, refined in 2025, incorporate AI-driven to deliver contextually relevant, non-intrusive placements that blend seamlessly with content, enhancing while maintaining a clean across categories.

Design Evolutions

The MSN portal launched in 1996 as a basic directory-style homepage, featuring a simple, text-heavy layout with prominent links to services, , and features, minimal graphics, and a grid-based structure optimized for early web browsers. This design emphasized functional navigation over visual flair, serving as a custom start page integrated with Windows 95. Over the subsequent decade, the interface gradually incorporated more dynamic elements, culminating in the 2009 redesign that drew inspiration from the ecosystem. This update streamlined the layout by reducing cluttered links, integrating multimedia like videos and images more prominently, and adopting a cleaner, more cohesive aesthetic aligned with Microsoft's broader service suite. In 2014, MSN underwent a comprehensive relaunch that introduced Metro-style tiles, fostering synergy with the Windows operating system by adopting a modern, tile-based grid reminiscent of the interface. The redesign featured sparser arrangements, live tiles for real-time content updates, and a focus on cross-platform accessibility, marking a shift toward a more immersive and device-agnostic experience. Building on this foundation, 2020 updates refined the principles established in 2014, enhancing adaptability across desktops, tablets, and mobiles through improved fluid layouts and faster content scaling without requiring separate mobile sites. These evolutions have incorporated broader AI integrations within 's ecosystem, enabling more intuitive navigation and personalized content arrangement. Performance optimizations have paralleled these evolutions, particularly through Microsoft Edge's rendering engine, which reduced average load times by up to 40% for key UI elements and improved overall responsiveness to under 300 milliseconds for initial paints as of July 2025. Since 2015, design iterations have increasingly relied on user feedback mechanisms, including extensive to validate changes in layout, tile configurations, and features before full rollout. Microsoft's experimentation platform facilitates tens of thousands of such tests annually across products like MSN, ensuring modifications enhance and based on empirical user data.

Applications

Desktop and Integrated Apps

The MSN app for Windows 10 and 11 integrates directly with the operating system's widget system, providing users with customizable panels for news, weather, and other content directly accessible from the taskbar or Start menu. In Windows 10, this manifests as the "News and interests" feature on the taskbar, which displays MSN-sourced headlines, weather updates, and stock information in a hoverable flyout, allowing quick glances without leaving the desktop. This evolved in Windows 11 into the full Widgets board, accessible via a dedicated taskbar icon, where MSN content powers dynamic cards for personalized feeds, including local weather forecasts and curated news stories tailored to user interests. Users can pin these widgets to the desktop or lock screen for persistent visibility, enhancing productivity by embedding MSN's portal-like experience into the core Windows interface. MSN has been deeply integrated with since the browser's launch in 2015 alongside , serving as the default content for the new tab page to deliver a seamless blend of search, , and . This setup displays MSN's dynamic layout—featuring top stories, , and quick links—upon opening a new tab, promoting user engagement with Microsoft's ecosystem without requiring additional navigation. Administrators and users can customize or override this default through Edge settings, but the integration underscores MSN's role as a foundational element in Edge's browsing experience, syncing content preferences to maintain consistency across sessions. Earlier iterations of desktop MSN functionality included Windows Gadgets, introduced in Windows Vista in 2007 as lightweight, dockable widgets for real-time information like clocks, weather, and RSS feeds, many of which drew from MSN sources. These were carried over to Windows 7 but faced growing security concerns due to vulnerabilities allowing remote code execution, leading Microsoft to disable them via a 2012 update for Vista and 7 users. Full discontinuation aligned with the end of Windows 7 support on January 14, 2020, after which no further updates or security patches were provided, rendering the gadgets obsolete and prompting a shift to more secure widget implementations in later Windows versions. This transition eliminated legacy MSN gadget support while paving the way for modern, sandboxed alternatives. Syncing capabilities tie MSN desktop experiences together via Microsoft accounts, enabling preferences such as customized news feeds, weather locations, and layout choices to propagate across Windows devices and Edge instances. By signing into MSN.com or Edge with a , users automatically synchronize these settings, ensuring a consistent view of personalized content whether on a desktop, laptop, or secondary machine. This feature extends to broader Edge data like favorites and history, which can influence MSN recommendations, fostering a unified without manual reconfiguration. In 2025, introduced updates enhancing MSN's desktop presence with Copilot integration, particularly in Edge's new tab page, where a sidebar layout for the AI assistant became available in testing phases starting in . This sidebar allows users to interact with Copilot directly alongside MSN content, enabling AI-driven queries on news or weather without disrupting the primary view, and represents an evolution toward more intelligent, context-aware desktop experiences. These changes build on earlier 2025 redesigns that streamlined the new tab interface, reducing clutter from traditional MSN feeds in favor of Copilot-focused elements for improved usability.

Mobile Apps

The MSN mobile applications encompass a suite of apps available on and Android platforms, delivering personalized news, weather, finance, and lifestyle content optimized for on-the-go access. The primary MSN app launched in December 2014, enabling users to customize their feeds with topics of interest and receive push notifications for and updates. This app includes an offline reading feature, allowing users to save articles for later viewing without an internet connection. Specialized MSN apps complement the main offering, focusing on specific content categories. The MSN Weather app, first introduced in a mobile-optimized form in 2013 as part of early Android updates, provides hourly and 10-day forecasts, maps, and alerts tailored to user locations. Similarly, the MSN app debuted in 2014, featuring real-time quotes, portfolio tracking, and financial summaries to help users monitor markets efficiently. Since 2018, MSN mobile apps have supported cross-platform synchronization, allowing favorites, reading lists, and settings to roam seamlessly across , Android, and desktop devices via accounts. Dark mode implementation began that year, reducing in low-light conditions across apps like MSN News. These enhancements integrate briefly with desktop experiences for consistent personalization. By 2025, the MSN app has surpassed 10 million downloads on , reflecting widespread adoption. Privacy features in MSN mobile apps emphasize user control over , particularly for location-based services. Users can adjust permissions through device settings to limit access for and personalization, ensuring content without unnecessary tracking.

Discontinued and Legacy Apps

MSN Messenger, originally launched in 1999 as an service, became a cornerstone of early communication, enabling text, voice, and video interactions among users worldwide. Rebranded as Windows Live Messenger in 2005, it reached its peak popularity in 2009 with approximately 330 million active monthly users, reflecting its dominance in the desktop messaging landscape before the rise of mobile alternatives. discontinued the service globally in 2013 following its acquisition of in 2011, migrating users to the unified platform to streamline offerings and leverage Skype's growing user base. The applications suite, introduced amid Microsoft's 2005 rebranding efforts and culminating in the 2012 release, encompassed tools for personal productivity and media management. Key components included Photo Gallery, an and editor for viewing, editing, and sharing photos, and , a blogging client designed for composing and publishing content to platforms like . These apps were phased out with the end of support on January 10, 2017, as Microsoft transitioned away from the suite to integrate similar functionalities into Windows 10's built-in apps and the broader ecosystem. In the early 2000s, MSN Mobile provided WAP-based services, allowing users to access MSN content such as news, , and portals via basic mobile phones with limited capabilities. These services were discontinued as adoption accelerated and full web supplanted WAP technology. Similarly, the , released in 2006 as a media player and library manager for music, videos, and podcasts, supported Microsoft's hardware devices until their discontinuation in 2011; the software itself was retired in November 2015, with services shifting to . Discontinuations across these MSN applications stemmed from strategic consolidation within Microsoft's ecosystem, particularly into for cloud-based productivity, alongside declining usage driven by competitors like for messaging and for media. Technological also played a role, as desktop-focused tools gave way to mobile-first and cloud-integrated solutions amid evolving user behaviors toward streaming and app-based access. For legacy data preservation, facilitated migrations such as exporting Photo Gallery libraries to or the Photos app, ensuring users could retain archives without relying on unsupported software; this process highlighted broader impacts on accessibility, prompting shifts to for long-term viability.

International Operations

Localized Versions

MSN provides localized versions of its portal and applications tailored to non-English speaking markets, adapting content, interfaces, and features to align with regional languages and cultural preferences. MSN services support availability in over 100 languages, with localized versions—including translated interfaces, region-specific feeds, and culturally relevant recommendations—available in dozens of countries worldwide. These localizations emphasize integration of prominent regional media sources to deliver authentic content. For instance, the MSN France portal (msn.com/fr-fr) incorporates news from established outlets such as and , ensuring users receive timely coverage of French politics, culture, and events in their native language. In the United Kingdom, MSN's version (msn.com/en-gb) leverages content licensing deals with regional broadcasters and publishers, such as the , , and , to provide localized news, weather, and lifestyle sections. To enhance , MSN employs auto-detection of user location via and browser settings, automatically switching to the appropriate language and regional content upon initial access. This feature allows seamless navigation without manual configuration, though users can override it through account settings or browser preferences. These efforts contribute significantly to MSN's global reach, with approximately 40% of its total originating from international users as of , underscoring the platform's success in non-U.S. markets.

Regional Partnerships and Adaptations

formed a with Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd. (SAIL) in to launch and operate MSN China, aiming to tailor the portal to local market needs through the newly established Shanghai MSN Network Communications Technology Company. This partnership enabled to navigate 's regulatory landscape while developing localized services. In , MSN expanded its offerings in through strategic ties with local media like , enhancing advertising and content integration to appeal to regional audiences, including Bollywood entertainment sections that featured film news, celebrity updates, and video clips. Regulatory adaptations have been central to MSN's international strategy, particularly in where Microsoft ensured compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) effective from May 2018, implementing data privacy controls, user consent mechanisms, and transparent processing across its services. This included updates to MSN's data handling practices to protect EU users' personal information, avoiding penalties and maintaining trust in the portal's operations. Revenue models for MSN vary by region to align with local economics and consumer behaviors, contributing to diversified income streams beyond standard . Challenges in certain markets, notably , have included navigating strict requirements, where MSN's portal and blogging tools were configured to block sensitive terms like "" and "" to meet government mandates, drawing international scrutiny for compromising free expression. The later faced criticism for implementing content modifications to comply with government requirements. As of 2025, is accelerating expansion into emerging markets like through investments in cloud infrastructure and AI, projected to unlock over $1.2 trillion in economic value by 2030, with MSN benefiting from enhanced digital access and localized content delivery in regions such as . In 2025, closed its operations in after 25 years as part of global restructuring efforts. These efforts build on broader localization strategies, such as adapting interfaces and content for diverse languages and cultures.

Integration and Technology

Ties to Microsoft Ecosystem

MSN is tightly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem through single sign-on (SSO) functionality powered by accounts. Users signing into MSN with their gain seamless access to a wide array of Microsoft services, including Outlook for email management, for gaming, and for , eliminating the need for repeated authentication across platforms. This SSO mechanism, facilitated by , streamlines user experiences by leveraging a unified identity system that supports authentication for both personal and enterprise environments. Further interconnection occurs via with , enabling MSN to incorporate widgets that draw from user-specific information. For instance, signed-in users can view personalized events and previews directly on the MSN homepage or app, promoting efficient workflow integration without leaving the portal. These connected experiences require user and are designed to enhance and across Microsoft's suite of tools. Such features highlight MSN's role in pulling relevant data from applications like Outlook and Planner to deliver contextual insights. MSN's advertising infrastructure is anchored in the platform, operational since when Microsoft introduced adCenter to independently manage (PPC) ads on MSN search and content pages. This platform facilitates across Microsoft-owned properties, including MSN, by allowing advertisers to bid on keywords and reach audiences through display and search formats. Prior to , MSN relied on third-party providers like Yahoo for ad delivery, but the in-house system marked a shift toward greater control and revenue optimization within the ecosystem. User base overlap underscores these ties, with substantial portions of MSN's audience actively engaging with other Microsoft services; for example, millions of monthly MSN visitors also utilize for productivity tasks, reflecting shared account usage and cross-service activity. Ecosystem expansions continue this synergy, such as embedding MSN-curated news feeds into channels via connectors, allowing teams to access real-time updates alongside collaboration tools.

Underlying Technologies and Innovations

MSN's backend infrastructure relies on the cloud platform to ensure scalability and handle varying loads across its global user base. Azure provides a robust foundation for hosting and managing MSN's services, including dynamic content aggregation and user personalization features. This cloud-based architecture allows for elastic resource allocation, enabling MSN to scale seamlessly during peak traffic periods without compromising reliability. For efficient global content delivery, MSN utilizes (CDN), which caches static and dynamic assets at edge locations worldwide to minimize latency. This integration with Azure Front Door, an advanced CDN service, supports high-speed distribution of web elements like images, videos, and scripts, ensuring consistent performance for users in diverse regions. Specific components, such as endpoints for MSN, are routed through Azure Front Door to optimize throughput and availability. Content recommendation on MSN is driven by AI and machine learning algorithms derived from Bing's search technology, which have evolved significantly since the . These systems employ models to analyze user behavior, query intent, and content relevance, powering personalized feeds and suggestions. Bing's AI advancements, including large-scale sparse models introduced in the early , enhance recommendation accuracy by processing vast datasets for contextual matching. As of late 2024, Bing's integration of Small Language Models (SLMs) has further optimized search speed and accuracy, enhancing MSN's personalized feeds. Security protocols for MSN include robust encryption standards to protect data in transit and at rest, primarily using (TLS) 1.2 and higher across all communications. employs advanced cipher suites and certificate management to secure user sessions and content delivery. Additionally, bot detection mechanisms, integrated via Azure's threat protection services, identify and mitigate automated threats through behavioral analysis and . Performance optimization in MSN is achieved through via Azure CDN and Front Door, which processes requests closer to users to reduce latency. This setup aligns with industry benchmarks for responsive web experiences. Edge caching and dynamic acceleration ensure efficient rendering of personalized content without excessive delays.

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  110. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/office-365-encryption-in-the-microsoft-cloud-overview
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  113. https://databox.com/average-page-load-time
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