Windows Live Alerts
Encyclopedia
Windows Live Alerts was a part of the Windows Live
services from Microsoft
that allowed users to get notification of time-sensitive events and information from various alert content providers. Users were able to choose how and when to receive alerts, so that users may stay informed no matter where they are.
Windows Live Alerts was a free service for users with a Windows Live ID
. However, some content providers or wireless service providers may charge for using their content or service with Windows Live Alerts. Alerts to wireless devices are available to users in United States
, Canada
and China
only.
Windows Live Alerts was discontinued from September 30, 2010, though Hotmail Calendar alerts are still managed by Alerts for the time being.
Windows Live Alerts integrates tightly with Windows Live Messenger
, Windows Live Hotmail
and Windows Live Mobile. An "Alerts" tab is available in Windows Live Messenger
showing a list of recent alerts organized by date or provider's name. When a new alert arrives, a "toast" will appear in the user's screen showing the alert's headline. If the user is signed out of Messenger
, the user can choose to have the alerts sent to their e-mail or mobile devices.
or Atom
feeds and place a "Windows Live Alerts Sign-Up" link on their websites to utilize this service. Users may then subscribe to these alerts by clicking on the sign-up link. New contents' headlines will be automatically distributed via an alert to readers through Windows Live Messenger
, Hotmail
or a mobile device, depending on the reader's alert settings.
Readers can modify their subscription settings or opt out of alerts subscription by the content providers at any time.
Content providers may choose to have three different types of "toast" notifications displayed on their reader's screen when new alerts arrive:
Currently, the "Branded Alert" option is only available to limited chosen content providers and under testing, while the new "Alert with Advertisement" option is only available for MSN Weather alerts.
Windows Live
Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
services from Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
that allowed users to get notification of time-sensitive events and information from various alert content providers. Users were able to choose how and when to receive alerts, so that users may stay informed no matter where they are.
Windows Live Alerts was a free service for users with a Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
. However, some content providers or wireless service providers may charge for using their content or service with Windows Live Alerts. Alerts to wireless devices are available to users in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
only.
Windows Live Alerts was discontinued from September 30, 2010, though Hotmail Calendar alerts are still managed by Alerts for the time being.
Features
Windows Live Alerts offered the following main features for users to manage their alerts:- Set or change time zone
- Specify where Windows Live Alerts are sent
- Receive alerts with Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
- Receive alerts on a mobile device
- View a list of recently received alerts
- Set quiet times when no alerts will be sent
- Unsubscribe or turn off alerts
Integration
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, Windows Live Hotmail
Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
and Windows Live Mobile. An "Alerts" tab is available in Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
showing a list of recent alerts organized by date or provider's name. When a new alert arrives, a "toast" will appear in the user's screen showing the alert's headline. If the user is signed out of Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, the user can choose to have the alerts sent to their e-mail or mobile devices.
Syndication Edition
Windows Live Alerts Syndication Edition allows bloggers and other content providers to keep their readers up-to-date and drive traffic to their websites by providing alerts services to their blogs and websites. Content providers are only required to publish their contents via RSSRSS
-Mathematics:* Root-sum-square, the square root of the sum of the squares of the elements of a data set* Residual sum of squares in statistics-Technology:* RSS , "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", a family of web feed formats...
or Atom
Atom (standard)
The name Atom applies to a pair of related standards. The Atom Syndication Format is an XML language used for web feeds, while the Atom Publishing Protocol is a simple HTTP-based protocol for creating and updating web resources.Web feeds allow software programs to check for updates published on a...
feeds and place a "Windows Live Alerts Sign-Up" link on their websites to utilize this service. Users may then subscribe to these alerts by clicking on the sign-up link. New contents' headlines will be automatically distributed via an alert to readers through Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, Hotmail
Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
or a mobile device, depending on the reader's alert settings.
Readers can modify their subscription settings or opt out of alerts subscription by the content providers at any time.
Content providers may choose to have three different types of "toast" notifications displayed on their reader's screen when new alerts arrive:
- Classic Alert - an instant-messaging based alert with a small logo of the content provider
- Branded Alert - an instant-messaging based alert where branding is applied to
- Alert with Advertisement - an instant-messaging based alert where an applicable advertisement is associated with the notification
Currently, the "Branded Alert" option is only available to limited chosen content providers and under testing, while the new "Alert with Advertisement" option is only available for MSN Weather alerts.
See also
- Windows LiveWindows LiveWindows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
- Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
- Windows Live HotmailHotmailWindows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
- Windows Live Hotmail Calendar