Conrad Agramont's WebLog

More Microsoft Sites (Part 2)

A few weeks ago, I talked about the trend from Microsoft to create distinct sites (e.g. URL’s) that are outside of the standard Microsoft.com brand.  Since then, I have found some more sites (not including the Event Websites).

• .NET Framework 3.0: http://www.netfx3.com/default.aspx
• Robot Invaders (MSN/Live Messenger Contents): http://www.robotinvaders.com/main/Default.aspx
• PlaysForSure (Windows Media Devices): http://www.playsforsure.com/
• Code Master Challenge (Vista application contest): http://www.codemasterchallenge.com
• IE 7 Add-ons: http://www.ieaddons.com/
• Live Gadgets: http://microsoftgadgets.com/
• Architecture Journal: http://www.architecturejournal.net/
• Secure IT Alliance: http://secureitalliance.org/
• MSN TV: http://www.msntv.com/
• MSN Direct: http://www.msndirect.com/default.htm
• Microsoft DirectBand (Wide-area wireless datacast network): http://www.directband.com/
• Technet Port 25: http://port25.technet.com/
• Origami Project (Ultra Mobile PC’s): http://www.origamiproject.com/
• Microsoft Incentives (Rebates and Discounts): https://www.microsoftincentives.com/
• Microsoft and SAP partnership: http://www.microsoft-sap.com/
• Microsoft Partner Readiness: http://www.msreadiness.com/
• Microsoft Partner Blogs: http://ts2blogs.com/
• Microsoft Partner T2 Team: http://www.ts2seminars.com/index.htm

To try and discover even more sites, I did a search using Google to find all sites with the typical Microsoft copyright ("2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved").

• http://thesource.ofallevil.com/ - Now I don’t know what this site is all about, but it has looks just like the Microsoft home page (no surprise what their motive is).  The following link takes you to the IE page for this site: http://thesource.ofallevil.com/windows/ie/default.mspx.  Now I’m not saying this is a “Good Site” or even sponsored by Microsoft, but it is interesting.
• http://www.longhornblogs.com/ This isn’t hosted by Microsoft either (I think), but it does hold some very interesting blogs from people using Windows Longhorn Server and Vista

And finally, here are the more “standard” non Microsoft.com sites:

• ASP.net – http://www.asp.net
• Live.com - http://www.live.com/
• MSN - http://www.live.com/
• Xbox – http://www.xbox.com/
• CodePlex – http://www.codeplex.com/
• GotDotNet - http://www.gotdotnet.com/

There may be more, but I think this is a pretty good list of all of the various MS sites that are hanging out on the net.  Perhaps the MS team can put an MS Web Directory to help showcase all of these various sites.  I’m wondering why they decided to move more content outside of their main content group and standard web properties (Microsoft.com).  Perhaps this makes the product groups (the typical owners of all these sites) more responsive as they own the delivery of the content.  I’m sure there will be an exec that will come around and bring everything back into one of the major the web properties (Technet, MSDN, MS.com).

What's also interesting is that the majority of these sites run Community Server or are "Hosted by Telligent".  Seems Telligent is doing a great job of staying close to the Microsoft product teams and delivering some cool sites!

Got anything else to share?