MSN ditches free photo storage service

Over exposure brought into focus

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 8th May 2003 18:51 GMT

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MSN Photos - currently a free service that allows snappers to store their photos online - is warning punters to download the piccies or face losing them forever.

It seems in the race to make money MSN is no longer willing to offer the service for free. Punters must either sign up to MSN 8 or remove the snaps before May 21.

A statement on the MSN Photo Web site reads: "MSN Photos will no longer offer online storage of photos for users who are not MSN 8 subscribers.

"If you currently have photos stored on our site, you can download them to your computer. The deadline for downloading your photos is May 21, 2003.

"After this date, all your photos will be removed from our site and you will no longer be able to access them. We ask that you please take action today, so you don't lose your valuable photos."

According to a spokesperson in the UK, "MSN is implementing this change to focus its resources on optimising and improving the overall photo sharing experience".

She said that MSN research has shown that a "vast majority of MSN Photos users prefer to share their photos via e-mail and do not actively manage their stored photos online." ®

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