MSN unveils new internet services

Microsoft will release an updated version of its MSN internet subscription service next week, offering extra protection against spam and viruses. MSN Premium, which replaces MSN 8, offers 11 accounts with each subscription, 25mb of storage space, parental controls, firewall protection, virus protection and a pop-up guard. Other new features let you share calendar information with other subscribers and publish it on the internet and access emails and your address book through a Hotmail account. MSN Premium subscribers can also share their digital pictures with others online via the new MSN Designer Email feature, which lets you create photo albums as a slide show. A second subscription-based service, MSN Plus, also launches this month. Aimed at individuals, it includes all the features you get with MSN Premium apart from the parental controls and multiple email accounts. MSN Premium costs £6.99 a month with two months free or £59.99 per year. MSN Plus costs either £3.99 a month with one month free or £29.99 a year. Both services will be available from 23 February.