Microsoft Corp. overhauled its MSN Mobile portal, adding services and simplifying the user interface.
The software giant said the new site, mobile.msn.com, incorporates MSN services such as Hotmail, Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces and Live Search. The portal features one-click access to e-mail and other services, and uses transcoding technology to optimize Internet content for mobile phones.
Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. also use transcoding software for mobile users, as do a handful of services including Mowser and Skweezer. Meanwhile, Opera Software ASA, Novarra Inc. and others have gained traction with browsers that customize Web sites for handsets.
“We believe consumers want to see their favorite Web sites optimized for their mobile phones, while having them remain easily accessible and free of charge,” said John Smelzer, senior VP of mobile for Fox Interactive Media. “FOXSports.com is an integral part of MSN.com, so extending that experience to the mobile Web makes perfect sense.”
The new portal works on handsets using WAP 1.2 or greater, Microsoft said.
Microsoft updates MSN Mobile portal
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