Microsoft decided to take its Windows Live portal in another direction, as it plans to add some features inspired from the popular social-networking Web sites.

Users will soon be able to allow their friends to take a look at their activities in other applications using Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and other Live applications and services.

"We are integrating the notions of social networking, e-mail and instant messaging into a consistent experience," explained Chris Jones, corporate vice president of Windows Live at Microsoft. He offered an example on the new service’s utility, saying that once a Windows Live user will post new images on Flickr, all his friends will be notified once they send an e-mail to that user, and the notification and link to the photos will appear on the ‘e-mail has been sent’ confirmation page.

Microsoft teamed up with several third-party Web sites, including Pandora, Twitter, iLike, Flickr, Yelp, Photobucket, Tripit, Flixster and LinkedIn, allowing them to link their applications with Windows Live to make sure that the ‘new activities’ segment is filled with attracting features. The company also decided to integrate the contacts list or Windows Live across Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, Outlook and Windows Live Calendar in order to further improve the users’ experience with Windows Live’s upcoming version. It is expected that the makeover to attract new users and also lead to a boost in advertising revenue.

The trend has been embraced by other companies too, with Google’s iGoogle portal getting ready for such an update and Yahoo will also add these social-networking capabilities.