Microsoft Corp on early Wednesday announced the launch of Windows Live Spaces, the next generation of its popular MSN Spaces blogging service, media reports said.

The novel service will allow consumers to tell their story and customize their site with blogs, photo albums, music lists and more. Users will also be able to choose from hundreds of specialized mini-applications, called gadgets, to personalize their blog.

It is also designed to connect users to their real social network of friends -- people in their Windows Live Contacts list -- that is integrated across Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and other services -- and introduce them to people through these trusted contacts.

Users that are already on one another's Windows Live Messenger contact lists can initiate instant messaging conversations from within Windows Live Spaces.

Microsoft also reported additional progress on Windows Live with the launch of Windows Live Toolbar, the Windows Live QnA beta and the releases of enhanced safety services in the coming weeks.

By the end of the summer Microsoft expects to ship almost half of the 20 beta services the company has been testing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2006)