Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, launched Wednesday its MSN service allowing Web users to publish and track each other's blogs, or online journals.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said that the free blogging service, called MSN Spaces, had attracted 4.5 million users during its preliminary test phase, which began last December.
Microsoft's MSN Internet division also launched the latest version of its MSN Messenger for swapping instant messages and sharing photos.
(MSNBC is a Microsoft-NBC joint venture.)
Blogs, short for "Web logs," have become a popular way for Web users to publish their opinions, observations and information on the Internet to a wide audience.
"We expect this to have wide appeal outside the United States," said Blake Irving, vice president of communication services at Microsoft's MSN Internet division, adding that MSN Spaces would be available in 15 languages in 30 markets.
Yahoo Inc., MSN's rival, also launched a new Web log and social networking service called "Yahoo 360." Google Inc." Microsoft's newest rival in online search and Web-based services, also has a popular blogging service called Blogger that the Web search company bought in 2002.
Microsoft said it planned to sell advertising on MSN Spaces as well as on MSN Messenger.