Netopia President and CEO George H. Tan (4th from left) shows Windows Live hand gesture with Microsoft South East Asia Marketing Director for Online Services Group; Craig Law-Smith (Left), Windows Live South East Asia Online Services Group Head; Barrie Ooi, and Philippine Country Sales Manager; Arlene Amarante during the launch of the new generation Windows Live held on December 9, 2008 at Netopia SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Microsoft Corp. announced the next generation of Windows Live, the most dynamic integrated set of online services thus far that makes communication and sharing easier and more fun for Internet users. Further enhancing Internet experience through Windows Live is the fast and simple connection with various Web sites, including the popular social networking sites.  Netopia is Microsoft’s official Internet Café partner in the Philippines for the launch of the next generation of Windows Live.

The new generation of Windows Live includes updated services for photo sharing, e-mail, instant messaging, and other popular Internet usage that makes social interaction via online much more dynamic than ever before. It also includes free downloadable software that helps simplify digital content like music and photos usually stored on PCs, mobile phones, and Web sites. The new Windows Live can be found at http://download.live.com/

To make online friends’ updates simple for its 460 million Windows Live customers, Microsoft is collaborating with leading companies including Flickr, LinkedIn Corp., Pandora Media Inc., Photobucket Inc., Twitter, WordPress and Yelp Inc. The collaborations will combine activities from these companies’ sites into Windows Live though a new profile and What’s New feed.  As Windows Live customers share photos, update their profiles, blog and write reviews, these activities will automatically publish to their Windows Live network. The new Windows Live also gives consumers the added convenience of having a central place to organize and manage various data and information.

Global population of Internet users is growing at tremendous speed. It has been estimated that there are 20 million registered Internet users in the Philippines alone.  Filipinos go online to send and receive email (54%), play online games (45%), and participate in online forums and discussion boards (33%).   

“More people are going online, that’s why it is important that they get the best and most convenient online experience whenever they share and communicate with their network of friends across the Web,” noted Arlene Aran-Amarante, Country Sales Manager, Microsoft Philippines. “They communicate through many unconnected Web services and want access to it all from a single location the simplest way possible.  This can be done with Windows Live’s updated services, where people can maximize and manage their Internet communication using either their PCs or mobile phones from one Web site alone.”

In addition to partnering with leading Web companies, Microsoft announced global alliances with HP and China Telecom Corporation Ltd. to deliver Windows Live services to more people across the globe. HP, the worldwide leader in printing solutions, will distribute Windows Live Photo Gallery with its consumer printers, including Photosmart and Deskjet lines, starting next year. The combined offer provides HP customers with Windows Live Photo Gallery, an end-to-end photo management and printing solution.

A local alliance with Netopia Internet Café, the Philippines' largest chain of Internet cafes and computer shops, has also been made. Users nationwide only pay for minimal per minute in all Netopia Internet Cafés when they use Windows Live. 

This next generation of Windows Live, will begin rolling out to customers over the coming weeks and will be made available globally in 54 countries in 48 languages which started on December 13, 2008.  This launch also marks a milestone in the evolution of the Internet, but also represents a key new opportunity for developers, advertisers and other organizations to build services that serve their respective constituencies.

 
Arlene Amarante (center) poses with Netopia President and CEO George H. Tan (2nd from right) during the new generation of Windows Live launch on December 9, 2008 at SM Mall of Asia. Also on photo are Netopia Corporate Sales and Business Development Manager; Robert Dequito (left), Chief Operating Officer (COO); Jito Grau, and Marketing Manager; Archie Nicasio