Although it's trying to break new ground in software services, Microsoft is working from a well-worn playbook. Its overall goal is to build an "ecosystem" of partners and developers who can build applications that tap into the company's online services and software.
"We very much think of ourselves as a company rooted in building ecosystems as a core competency, and that's what we want to bring to the software-plus-services world," said John Richards, director of product management for Windows Live Platform.
Microsoft said it will also detail liberal usage terms for its Web properties, allowing outside companies to build mashup Web applications that generate as many as 1 million unique visitors per month for free.
