LiveSide - News blog : Custom Domains

Windows Live Custom Domains renamed to Admin Center - New features added

Chris — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:40:00 GMT

Windows Live Custom Domains has today undergone its Wave 2 update that sees it renamed as Windows Live Admin Center, though the old url of domains.live.com still works. This name change reflects the wider array of features now offered by the service, which has transitioned from a hosted email service into a more complete Windows Live package. The update now allows those who manage a domain to redirect a subdomain to a Windows Live Space, a Windows Live Map of a location you specifiy, a Live Search page complete with custom macros or even a customised live.com page. To see what this means, check out the urls we've redirected:

http://spaces.liveside.net/
http://maps.liveside.net/
http://mail.liveside.net

The new Windows Live Admin Center now allows co-branding of Windows Live sites. Users who manage a domain through Windows Live have the ability to add their own logo to the Windows Live Header, which is the same experience as that provided by Windows Live partners such as Verizon and Qwest.

Additionally this update extends the Windows Live @ Edu scheme to two new markets.

Windows Live @ Net enables IT managers to host their services
Windows Live Community builder allows communities to host their services

Although a basic service, Windows Live Admin Center does the job well and with the minimum of fuss. We've been using it as our mail service for over a year, as it allows you to use both Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Mail to manage your inboxes. What would be great to see is statistics for the redirected subdomains, showing just how many people are using your Windows Live pages. Maybe a redirect for your personal SkyDrive folder too. Any other improvement suggestions?

Windows Live Custom Domains hits Wave 2

Gregor — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:23:00 GMT

The Windows Live Custom Domains team just launched version 2.0 featuring the new Wave 2 UI and a bunch of new features.

According to their team blog the highlights of this release are:

E-Mail optional domains: Your can now register a domain to host Windows Live IDs without the need to change the email provider still allowing for Windows Live Messenger use
Custom Adresses: You can now set up friendly names under your domain (eg. mail.liveside.net) that point to the Windows Live service
The default member limit has been raised to 500 (it was previously at 100) and can still be extended by request
An updated SDK with twice the number of methods and richer sample apps

Go and give Custom Domains a test run.....

More on the free Outlook Connector beta and other e-mail FAQs

Matthew — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:21:00 GMT

As of September 27, 2004, all new Windows Live Hotmail accounts, including Office Live and Custom Domains don't have HTTP [WebDAV] support through Outlook and Outlook Express. In fact, for those users who haven't upgraded to Windows Vista, the new version of Outlook Express [Windows Mail] doesn't even have HTTP support for premium or old accounts. It's quite confusing, but thankfully Windows Live Mail is in beta and should relieve some of that confusion.

For business users and those who still prefer Outlook, Outlook Connector is now free for all Windows Live Hotmail accounts. People ask me why they would want connector if they already have HTTP accounts and there are a few reasons:

The beta version now also synchronizes with more folders, including Drafts. In fact, the new folder list will include: Deleted Items, Drafts, Inbox, Junk E-mail, Outbox, Sent Items, [and if using 2007] Search Folders. WebDAV only synchronizes Deleted Items, Inbox, Junk E-mail, and Sent Items.
Contacts! Although Outlook Express supported synchronization through Windows Address Book, that is now gone in Vista. Note--For those who only want to export in contacts in a spreadsheet without using Outlook can go through Windows Live Hotmail.
Only for Premium accounts: Calendar. Unfortunately Microsoft has perhaps added more confusion by withdrawing this feature from free accounts, but on the other hand they still have to give a reason for Premium accounts to pay. Thankfully the majority of features with Outlook Connector are free, but think of it this way: there's Outlook Connector Standard and Outlook Connector Premium. The calendar feature is also quite nice, it will even download shared calendars from Windows Live Calendar. There is also a free Office Online Internet Calendar Publishing Service for free accounts.

If Calendar sync is needed, an MSN Premium, Hotmail Plus, or a paid Office Live subscription would be required. Interestingly enough, Outlook Live [MOOL] disappeared months ago, apparently after the decision to make Outlook Connector free. MOOL had the promise of giving a 1-year lease on Outlook, with any updates to Outlook included in the subscription [i.e. from 2003 to 2007].

Users who try to add a free account should be prompted to upgrade to the beta. In addition, the new Outlook Connector is listed as a supplement attached to the license of Outlook, which seems to indicate that all support would go through Office.

As Chris said, there is more information and screenshots on the Office Online site, however the shots don't have the Outlook Connector menu or toolbar. You would think Microsoft would not want to add to the confusion? For a demo of the connector, see the MOOL online demo [a lot of the features are the same]. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know!

@Matthew

Custom Domains SDK Updated

Kip Kniskern — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:41:00 GMT

A new version of the Custom Domains SDK is up at Microsoft.com downloads, version 1.2. Here's the overview:

The Windows Live Custom Domains SDK is intended for customers and partners who want to programmatically accomplish many of the administration tasks that are available on the Windows Live Custom Domains Web site in addition to tasks that are not available on the Web site, such as importing and exporting user lists.

The SDK uses the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) remote procedure call (RPC) 1.1 standard for communication between client applications and the Web servers for Windows Live Custom Domains.

The SDK consists of the following:
1. A command-line application and code samples (in Microsoft Visual Studio C#).
2. A Win32 user management application with source code (in Visual Studio C#).
3. Documented SOAP calls for each function

This follows the new version of Custom Domains we told you about last week. No info up yet on dev.live.com, but the download is live.

Windows Live Custom Domains gets update

Chris — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 06:51:00 GMT

Windows Live Custom Domains has just been updated, adding in several new features. From the team blog:

All top level domains (TLDs) are now supported
You can now register subdomains along with domains, or domains and subdomains on their own, however you choose
HTML code preview for Open Membership signup
You can pay to have Windows Live Custom Domains configured for your domain - USA only and limited to specific partners for the time being
Addition of online communities to help with support
Read more

The pay-for-configuration is an interesting development, allowing non-geeky users to use one of the most undervalued Windows Live services. Yes Custom Domains works with Windows Live Mail Desktop, and Messenger and everything else from Windows Live. So if you haven't got an @live.com address yet, perhaps now is the time to be creative?

PS: There is a neat Custom Domains manager from Frameworkx.com. Expect an updated version to take advantage of the new features soon!