I hope MSN users can still access news servers outside of
MSN.
Peter
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http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-1555559.html
MSN drops newsgroup support
By Jim Hu
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
February 23, 2000, 4:00 a.m. PT
Microsoft's MSN Internet site is dumping support for newsgroup
discussions, the latest sign that the pioneering online chat format is
being bypassed by the commercial Web.
An MSN representative said the site is replacing newsgroup
discussions, which are currently hosted on the open-ended Usenet
network, with other options available on the site. She said the move
was sparked by convenience.
"We are removing newsgroups from MSN servers because we now have a
better communication vehicle provided by MSN Web Communities--
including chat, message boards, email and Web pages," the
representative wrote in an email. While newsgroups will no longer be
supported on MSN.com, they will still be available at the company's
corporate Web site, Microsoft.com.
[...]
"Newsgroups are unruly and message boards are easier to convert into a
business," said Anya Sacharow, an analyst at Jupiter Communications.
[...]
"One of the charms of Usenet is that it's so completely
decentralized," said David Ritz, a Usenet advocate. "(Microsoft's)
operation is into control. This cannot be accomplished in Usenet."
[...]
