A family of free desktop and Web-based applications from Microsoft, most of which can be accessed from a personal home page as well as a Windows Live browser toolbar. Launched in late 2005, Microsoft integrated and rebranded its MSN services, Hotmail e-mail and Windows instant messaging as "Windows Live." See Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger.

Windows Live includes a personal news and information page that can be customized with mini applications called "gadgets" (http://gallery.live.com). Other services include photo sharing (Photo Gallery), social networking with event planning (see Windows Live Spaces), a desktop mail client (see Windows Live Mail), parental controls (Windows Live OneCare) and a blog writer (see Windows Live Writer). For more information, visit www.windowslive.com. See Office Live.