Microsoft Corp believes it can best the established proprietary on-line services by making the Microsoft Network experience much more like watching television, and today, it launches the new version of the network, using its ActiveX to create scrolling banners and moving images to present the material as if it were a series of television channels. According to the US edition of the Wall Street Journal, it will also act as a funnel for subscribers to the Expedia travel service, the Slate on-line magazine, and the MSNBC rolling audiovisual news service. The introductory page, called OnStage, has boxes representing six channels, comprising an on-line magazine for women called UnderWire, a cinematic historical series called Retrospect 360, a travel game and treasure hunt called Broken Line, Star Trek: Continuum desiderata from the television show, and Riff, where subscribers can interact with guest musicians and their work. According to Reuter, the company is spending $100m on the Network relaunch.
