Microsoft launches web-conferencing software

Microsoft has launched a web-conferencing software that becomes the company's first attempt to sell a paid service along with its Office package of personal computer software.

The service, called LiveMeeting, is based on technology Microsoft acquired when it bought PlaceWare in April for about US$200m (€177m), and allows customers to share documents and information during conference calls.

The LiveMeeting service will be sold through the company's next version of its Office software when it debuts in late October. It will cost US$75 (€66.35m) per user per month, with discounts given for multi-year contracts.

Microsoft plans to spend more than US$10m (€8.85m) marketing the new service, which includes two new nationwide television advertisements to introduce the service.

The ads stress that with a PC, a phone and an Internet connection, companies can reduce their traveling expenses.

This new approach is a key change in Microsoft's marketing. To date, Office has been a collection of software that comes installed on corporate computers. In the future, Microsoft expects to include additional services that can be accessed for a fee.

Microsoft is not alone in offering products for web conferencing. In addition to WebEx and other companies that offer a conferencing service, IBM and other software makers are selling conferencing and presentation software.