Microsoft plans to announce details of its Internet communications plans for Windows Live on Thursday at the Spring 2006 VON Conference & Expo in San Jose, Calif., the company said.Windows Live will incorporate Internet voice and video capabilities for MSN and Windows Live Messenger to make the system competitive with communications tools made available by Google and Skype Technologies.Microsoft’s plan calls for free PC-to-PC voice calling capabilities, and free “video conversation,” or video with voice, within MSN Messenger, for which Microsoft has partnered with Logitech, the company said. In addition, Windows Live will offer a for-fee PC-to-phone calling system available through Windows Live, via a partnership between Microsoft and Verizon Communications. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Microsoft’s plans for Windows Live are a response to increasing market demand for communications functions. The company’s MSN Messenger service hosted 800 million minutes of voice sessions during January of this year. In addition, it hosted almost 1.1 billion minutes of voice conversations, and 7 billion minutes of webcam-only sessions, Microsoft said. Other features that Microsoft is testing for launch later this year include Windows Live Search, which will allow users to directly call entities found via an Internet search, and Windows Live Messenger, which will allow PC-to-phone calling in conjunction with local telecom partners, the company said. It did not specify when these services might be available.-Steven Schwankert, IDG News Service For related coverage, read Microsoft to Debut Windows Live Parental Controls and Microsoft Debuts Revamped Search Offering.Keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage. Related content opinion The changing face of cybersecurity threats in 2023 Cybersecurity has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the mice keep getting bigger and are becoming increasingly harder to hunt. By Dipti Parmar Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Cybercrime Security brandpost Should finance organizations bank on Generative AI? Finance and banking organizations are looking at generative AI to support employees and customers across a range of text and numerically-based use cases. By Jay Limbasiya, Global AI, Analytics, & Data Management Business Development, Unstructured Data Solutions, Dell Technologies Sep 29, 2023 5 mins Artificial Intelligence brandpost Embrace the Generative AI revolution: a guide to integrating Generative AI into your operations The CTO of SAP shares his experiences and learnings to provide actionable insights on navigating the GenAI revolution. By Juergen Mueller Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Artificial Intelligence feature 10 most in-demand generative AI skills Gen AI is booming, and companies are scrambling to fill skills gaps by hiring freelancers to make the most of the technology. These are the 10 most sought-after generative AI skills on the market right now. By Sarah K. White Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Hiring Generative AI IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe