MSN 8.0 to hit UK

MSN 8.0 - the new Net offering from Microsoft - could be about to land in the UK.

Last week MSN in the US announced its plans to chuck $300m at marketing the latest version of its Net access software.

According to sources MSN is getting ready to reveal its plans for releasing MSN 8.0 in the UK.

The big difference compared to its US cousin, so we're told, is that it just a content-only package. Which means that if you want to cough up to the service - which could set you back around a fiver a month - it would mean you would also have to supply Net access.

Question is, is MSN 8.0 good enough to warrant paying on top of your usual ISP fees?

Dunno.

But it's an idea that's gaining some momentum. Earlier this month Forrester Research claimed that no-frills access-only services, such as BT Broadband, could spell the death of ISPs, according to Forrester Research.

ADSL services that separate broadband access from content will "force 'me-too' ISPs and portals out of business and extend cablecos' problems in fighting ADSL's, said analysts. ®

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