History of MSN
MSN, short for Microsoft Network, was launched by Microsoft in August 1995 as an online service and
internet portal. Initially introduced as part of Windows 95, MSN was meant to compete with services
like AOL and CompuServe by offering dial-up internet access and exclusive content. Over time, MSN
expanded into a broader web portal, offering news, entertainment, email, and search functionalities.
In the early 2000s, it became known for popular services like MSN Messenger, a widely used instant
messaging app that connected millions of users worldwide.
As the internet evolved, so did
Microsoft’s strategy. MSN Messenger eventually became Windows Live Messenger and was later merged
into Skype after Microsoft acquired it in 2011. The MSN brand gradually shifted focus toward being a
content portal, with curated news and lifestyle sections powered by partnerships with major media
outlets. Today, MSN.com still operates as a web portal, but most of its earlier communication
services have been phased out or absorbed into other Microsoft platforms.