February 08
brand confusion?
this morning - as i checked my google alerts for 'windows live' i was greeted with a few articles about MSN vs. Live and brand confusion.
i'm suprised these articles didn't start sooner, say when we announced Windows Live on 11/1 :) The reality is that Windows Live is a significant services initiative and MSN is a brand associated with rich content more than services.
what are the main things users associate MSN with?
- msn.com: which is like seattle times, content published by msn in differnt categories
- messenger: ppl often use the term i msn'd you (as in IM'd you)
hotmail and spaces are often referred to as just that and have less of an attachment to the msn brand. users often say, 'i checked my hotmail'... 'i have a space'.
Windows Live is about services and unifying a user's digital world through a set of rich services. Windows Live is like tivo: you can pick and choose what you want to and when you want to see it. MSN is like CBS, a fixed line-up of shows including some of the best shows :)
now there were some services under the MSN brand, that now fit better under the Windows Live brand. is this potentially confusing? yes. but it will make sense to the consumers as more live services become available and as MSN better positions itself as a rich media provider. Windows Live also includes a new unified look and feel and integrated scenarios, that will help with the new brand establishment.
now can msn's content be consumed within windows live? absolutely,
they can already.
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