Microsoft is looking to make the process of logging into its online services and apps simple and centralized before the launch of Windows 8. The next generation of Windows arrives later this year — and we may have a date for the official unveiling.
Windows Live is the current the umbrella-username for almost all Microsoft apps and online services such as Messenger, Windows Live Essentials, Hotmail and Microsoft’s online cloud storage service SkyDrive. In fact, your Windows Live ID also gives you access to the Windows Phone Marketplace to get apps and also facilitates syncing of data from your Windows Phone.
Your Windows Live ID login also gets you into the Windows Phone Marketplace for apps and syncs your data from your Windows Phone. So you can understand why Microsoft is trying to makes things simple.
From now on, Microsoft services will ask you to provide just your Microsoft account information, instead of your Windows Live ID. Although the name will be changed, your login information will remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has mailed invitations to Windows Phone app developers for a conference to be held in San Francisco on June 20. This might just be the day that Microsoft gives us the down-low of Windows 8 after the tiny little sneak peek that it promised for early June.
The change in the system signals the release of the Windows 8 OS. This alteration will help Microsoft link its Windows desktop OS with Windows Phone, Marketplace (Windows Phone apps) and other online services. The syncing of the different services will boost Windows Phone when Windows 8 is finally launched.
Not only that, your Microsoft account will also be synced with your Xbox Live account. You will easily be able to synchronize your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. All your connections (friends) will be imported into the Windows contact list on your PC, in your smartphone and in all apps. So you can now email your social networking friends via your PC or call them through your phone.
