Microsoft has announced to close its MSN TV service by the
end of September this year. In the statement, the company said that there were now
"many new ways" to access the net.
MSN TV was actually rebranded by Microsoft in 2001 while the
company purchased the service for $425m (£285m) in 1997, when it was originally
WebTV.
This provides internet TV services and has the hardware including
a set-top box and bespoke keyboard. Not only users can get TV services but they
can also check email, use MSN chat services and share photos online. Now, there
are many other such devices including Microsoft's own Xbox.
"You get the feeling a lot of companies are trying to
make things more efficient from their end," said Stuart Miles, founder of
technology news website Pocket-lint.
"They are trying to align their services - it seems to
be a trend. You see it with Yahoo especially, buying loads of products but also
turning things off."
Mr Miles added that the closure of MSN TV would not affect
many people.
"It's a technology that served a purpose at the time
and now it's redundant," he said.
"I think most people will be saying, 'Oh, they still
had that?'"
