MSN Launches Beta of Soapbox on MSN Video

WebKnowHow
Wednesday, September 20, 2006; 06:37 AM

MSN announced the U.S. beta, invite-only release of Soapbox on MSN Video, a user-uploaded video service that makes it easy for people to upload and share personal videos with the Soapbox community and others around the world. Soapbox will be available on MSN Video and will be deeply integrated throughout Microsoft Corp.’s portfolio of online services, including Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live Messenger.

Microsoft said Soapbox utilizes powerful Web 2.0 technologies to provide an entertaining experience and offer benefits like easy uploading and sharing of video creations, advanced search, RSS feeds, embeddable Soapbox player, and a number of community features.

“Soapbox delivers on a critical component of the MSN growth strategy of deepening audience engagement by enabling people to participate in the content experience,” said Rob Bennett, general manager of Entertainment and Video Services for MSN. “By adding a user-uploaded video service, we are rounding out our existing investments in commercially produced and original content on MSN Video.”

The beta of Soapbox on MSN Video is available on an invitation-only basis in the U.S. Those interested in participating in the beta can sign up for the waiting list now at http://soapbox.msn.com. Access to the beta will expand over time by enabling existing beta testers to invite a limited number of friends. The beta of Soapbox on MSN Video is available to users of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later running on Windows XP and Firefox 1.0.5 or later running on Windows XP or Macintosh OS X.