MSN - A Brief History

Founded in 1995 by Microsoft, MSN is a suite of Internet-based services. These include free software, community and search services, newsgroups, and blog hosting. Although MSN has morphed into a full-blown media company, the service began as a subscription-based service portal with Windows 95. Later, Microsoft converted it to a website. However, it was not until early 2000 that MSN began to offer mobile content.

Originally designed as a private dial-up service, Microsoft's online service was conceived as a closed system. The software company was expected to lose money during the first year of operation, and industry observers predicted that it would reach three million subscribers by the summer of 1997.

MSN was introduced alongside the release of Windows 95 in August of 1995. The software giant had already implemented Internet access for CompuServe and AOL, and its plan was to create a new service to compete with these companies. It also hoped that a radically focused new product would bring in more subscribers.

During the first few months, MSN grew slowly. It had 2.3 million users, and it was not making money on subscriptions. In response, Microsoft made changes eight months after the launch. It redesigned the entire site, introduced a new version of Internet Explorer, and launched an advertising campaign. These changes helped to make MSN more appealing, but also put Microsoft in a position of having to deal with apparently irresolvable billing issues.

Aside from the obvious (which is a big deal for a company like Microsoft), the MSN website was actually able to synchronize your preferences across devices. This was a huge step forward for the company, which had been struggling to provide email service to its users. In fact, overloaded servers had shut down the email system on several occasions.

MSN also partnered with carriers to provide DSL connections. It also began offering rebates for computer purchases, and it launched an expensive advertising campaign in 2000 and 2001. Its advertising also helped to drive its subscriber count to 6.9 million in 2001.

In addition to the free service, Microsoft acquired the popular free email service Hotmail, which provided the company with nearly ten million subscribers. This purchase gave MSN a much-needed boost in its efforts to gain new subscribers, as it gave it tried-and-true email technology.

MSN had many other features, too. It also offered newsgroups, chat, and legal information on software. It also featured a variety of apps, including a weather app, stock market tickers, and trending videos. Its web-based apps also had their own color code, and they allowed users to choose their information sources. This was a big improvement over the old clunky, unwieldy MSN web browser. Its mobile software was renamed MSN Mobile, and it was preloaded on many cell phones. Its features included instant messaging, web search, and access to legacy MSN services.

Eventually, the MSN brand was retained in its email services and as a portal for the Internet. However, in 2001, it had only a modest amount of subscribers.