Windows Live Betas

Windows Live Betas (previously Windows Live Ideas) was a website launched in November 2005 to promote the first Windows Live services, all of which remained in beta until some began to release final versions in the summer of 2006. The site includes links to try out the services, sign up for the betas, learn more about each service, and read team blogs. The site also included links to other "Live" offerings, initially featuring Xbox Live, Office Live, and Live Jobs.
This service has been discontinued since with the public beta release of the new Windows Live Essentials suite of services as part of the "Wave 3" launch.
History
There were three ways Microsoft can distribute its Windows Live beta products:
*Managed Beta Program - distributed via Microsoft Connect. It featured high levels of interaction with the product teams and may provide private newsgroup access. Usually the number of beta testers is highly restricted.
*Closed Beta Program - distributed via the previous Windows Live Ideas. It require beta testers to sign-in with their authorized Windows Live ID account to the website before accessing or downloading the beta products. This allows more users to participate than the Managed Beta Program. Products with Managed Beta Program typically get expanded to become Closed Beta Program, alternatively products can go straight into a Closed Beta Program (such as the Windows Live TV beta).
*Open Beta Program - distributed via Windows Live Betas. There are basically none or very few restrictions placed on who can participate in testing the beta product. An example of a Windows Live beta service in this stage would be Windows Live Writer.
On , Windows Live Ideas was re-branded as Windows Live Betas, as part of this re-brand the Closed Beta Program became unavailable due to the inability to sign-in to the new website. Windows Live Betas was discontinued on and the website was redirected to Windows Live Downloads with the release of the first betas of the Windows Live Essentials suite.

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