MSN changes chat to paid service
As more and more companies do away with free services, MSN makes this move according to this Wall Street Journal story (subscription required):
In most of its 34 markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia, Microsoft MSN has chosen to simply shut down the service, the Redmond, Wash.-based software company said. However, MSN will continue to offer chat services to users in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Brazil. Microsoft will post the changes on its Web site.
Eliminating and curtailing the service will help curb inappropriate uses, MSN spokeswoman Lisa Gurry said, including pornographic spam as well as pedophiles or other sexual predators. "We recognize that it's a common industrywide problem," she said. "We've taken a look at our service and how can we make efforts to step up our efforts to provide a safe environment."