Microsoft to unify inboxes

The updated Live Mail will link to social networking sites

Microsoft is seeking to improve online communications by bringing disparate messaging systems together in an update to its Windows Live Mail application.

An updated version of the application, previewed at Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference, will bring together all a user's web mail and instant messaging (IM) accounts, and their associated contacts lists, and even link with social network sites.

"People have more than one web mail account, more than one IM account, and various social networks, all with disparate contact lists and messages," said Brian Hall, Microsoft's general manager for Windows Live. He described the situation as a "data diaspora".

Designed to work with Windows 7, the so-called "Windows Live wave 3” will bring it all together from various Microsoft and third-party sources , including Hotmail, Gmail and AOL.

"Our vision is that you have one list of friends, one inbox, we want you to be able to get to your stuff wherever, from any device," said Hall.

In the application, users can pick which account they want to send an email from, and see unread mail grouped together by contact.

Hall said the new Windows Live Mail also has a contact interchange with social networks such as Facebook, so that contact information will automatically update if friends change their phone number.

The application can also synchronise all contacts and calendar information into Outlook, enabling users to see their work and personal schedules alongside each other.

Finally, a Favourites list makes it easier to access the contacts most commonly communicated with.

"Every Windows user should want to have Windows Live on their PC," said Hall.