Free Microsoft Live Basics

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: JasonE4

Originally posted by: Extelleron
So wait, you're charged $1 for signing up for the free service?

Probably not. They're probably just checking that you gave them a valid credit card number. The $1 is probably just a temporary hold.

No biggy then....... I like it better how Paypal does it however, they actually put a few cents in your account to confirm.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Looney
I couldn't find this in the search at all, so hopefully it's not a repost.

http://officelive.microsoft.com/default.aspx

It's free during AND after beta. I guess this is a better alternative than crap like geocities.

Very cool!

 

[namityadav]

Any news if we can transfer the domain or use URL forward on it? I seriously doubt it.

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: GEEBOSS
Why do you need my credit card for a free subscription?

....... We limit the number of offers to one per credit card number as added protection against malicious users signing up for our service.......

So, they are storing CC numbers even if you only signup for a free account? Somehow they believe that their servers are more secure than an average Windows PC out there.

I would definitely use a one-time use CC number.

 

[mb]

Thanks OP.

I signed up earlier today and have been fooling around with it. The free service (during & after) seems good for people who just want to secure a domain for their company. It is very limited to what you can do - obviously. You cannot edit the HTML or insert any of your own code. I don't know if you can do those two things with the $29.95/mo service, but it doesn't seem like it.

I think what you get for $29.95/mo probably isn't worth it for a lot of people. Perhaps maybe to a small biz owner who already has a flow of income and absolutley no skill or enough time to make a website it would be, but I can pay less than that per year and have my own custom website with a custom online shopping cart... I can't see paying $360 a year for Microsoft's office Live essentials and not even be able to have a cart on there.

 

[Extelleron]

Personally I dont like Microsoft's tools. Just playing around with it, I can't customize my site nearly as much as I could with geocities, unless I'm using everything wrong.

 

[gregdep]

as said previously... It defintely would be alot nicer if you could add a cart to it..

oh well

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: gregdep
as said previously... It defintely would be alot nicer if you could add a cart to it..

oh well

Go here http://feedback.officelive.com/ and let them know what you think. Maybe they will add it.

 

[Ktulu]

For those wondering whether you can transfer your domain.

Do a whois search, and it will tell you that domain transfer is prohibited

Domain ID119848562-LROR
Domain Name:XXXXXXX.ORG
Created On:04-Apr-2006 20:24:14 UTC
Last Updated On:04-Apr-2006 20:24:15 UTC
Expiration Date:04-Apr-2007 20:24:14 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:Melbourne IT, Ltd. dba Internet Names Worldwide (R52-LROR)
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Status:TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:C114417603228593
Registrant Name:XXXXXXXX Torres
Registrant Street1:XXXXX
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant Cityomona
Registrant State/Province:CA
Registrant Postal Code:91766
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.XXXXXXX
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:XXXXXXXX@hotmail.com

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Ktulu
For those wondering whether you can transfer your domain.

Do a whois search, and it will tell you that domain transfer is prohibited

Yup, same here:
Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited
EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited
EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited

 

[intogamer]

$1.00 CC authorization charge is standard for confirming you CC

 

[DaCurryman]

Originally posted by: Ktulu
For those wondering whether you can transfer your domain.

Do a whois search, and it will tell you that domain transfer is prohibited

So does that mean that the domain you choose is permanently linked to Microsoft or is there some way to cancel the service and then the domain is up for grabs again and you must pray you can grab it with another registrar?

 

[Cheapest]

It also said:
"We also require a credit card to facilitate payment of services during the beta (e.g., the purchase of additional domain names) as well as at the conclusion of the beta period, when customers will be asked if they would like to continue using our services on a paid, monthly subscription basis. With your explicit permission, we can establish monthly billing using your credit card information. You will be able to continue using our services without interruption and without having to submit additional account information. "

Can you do a transfer to other DMS without any additional charge? I hear Microsoft charge a lot to transfer Domain name to other Service provider after all this free in only temporary durint beta release.

 

[cdodich]

nice post
always like free web space

 

[mb]

This is kinda sad.. I don't know if I should blame Mozilla or Microsoft for this, but the page created using Office Live looks like crap in Firefox.
For example: I set the page width at 780px and centered. Looks good in IE. In FF, it's on the left. Also, I inserted a slide show on the page and it does not show up in FF either.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: supafly
This is kinda sad.. I don't know if I should blame Mozilla or Microsoft for this, but the page created using Office Live looks like crap in Firefox.
For example: I set the page width at 780px and centered. Looks good in IE. In FF, it's on the left. Also, I inserted a slide show on the page and it does not show up in FF either.

Seriously, this was a total waste of time, I'd much rather pay for the domain and hosting and have fully configurable site. What do you expect when microsoft offers something for free.

 

[mugs]

Marked

 

[DoggXXL]

Thanks OP! Signed up!

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: supafly
This is kinda sad.. I don't know if I should blame Mozilla or Microsoft for this, but the page created using Office Live looks like crap in Firefox.
For example: I set the page width at 780px and centered. Looks good in IE. In FF, it's on the left. Also, I inserted a slide show on the page and it does not show up in FF either.

Seriously, this was a total waste of time, I'd much rather pay for the domain and hosting and have fully configurable site. What do you expect when microsoft offers something for free.

Besides the domain, this is honestly pathetic. As I said earlier, geocities is way better.

 

[GuildBoss]

Originally posted by: DaCurryman

Originally posted by: Ktulu
For those wondering whether you can transfer your domain.

Do a whois search, and it will tell you that domain transfer is prohibited

So does that mean that the domain you choose is permanently linked to Microsoft or is there some way to cancel the service and then the domain is up for grabs again and you must pray you can grab it with another registrar?

Typically, one can contact their registrar and remove the lock status. Not sure how it works with Live Basics though...

 

[Topplayer]

thanks op

 

[Marc Rader]

I'm trying it as well

 

[trarthur]

Besides the domain, this is honestly pathetic. As I said earlier, geocities is way better.

You can't be serious!?!? There is a reason they are also called Geoshitties.

From their site:

Personalized Web Address
GeoCities web address
(www.geocities.com/your-Yahoo!-ID) Yes

For Your Visitors
Data transfer (bandwidth) 3 GB/month
(metered hourly)
Ad-free site No

Web Site Management
Disk space for storing files 15 MB
Free PageBuilder and PageWizard tools Yes

Customer Support
Online Help site Yes

The GeoCities Free package comes with a "geocities.com/your-Yahoo!-ID" web adress. If you would like to get (or transfer) your own domain name, such as "your-name.com," check out the GeoCities Pro web site package.

So, let's compare the free MS offering to Geocities free offering:

MS offers 30MB of storage, Geocities 15MB - winner MS
MS offers 10GB/month of bandwidth, Geocities offers up a whopping 3GB - winner MS
MS places a small link at the bottom to OfficeLive, Geocities has ads on the right side. Nice.

Oh, and let's not forget the free domain. yoursite.com vs. geocities.com/yoursite

The MS offering is targeting small businesses. Pure and simple. Who wants to do business with someone who can't get their own site name? Would you put geocities.com/sitename on a business card and hand them out? Shame on you if you would.

 

[Chrishuff1]

Registrar: MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES WORLDWIDE
Whois Server: whois.melbourneit.com
Referral URL: http://www.melbourneit.com
Name Server: NS2.OFFICELIVE.COM
Name Server: NS1.OFFICELIVE.COM
Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited
EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited
EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 05-Apr-2006
Creation Date: 05-Apr-2006
Expiration Date: 05-Apr-2007

Bah, I'll pry cancel it soon, I don't really like it.

 

[altonb1]

I got an email abotu this, too. I think I may be in....