Microsoft Seeks Testers for Windows Live Essentials

Here's yet another new Windows Live service that Microsoft is launching. Known as "Windows Live Essentials" – not to be confused with Office Live Essentials – the new service will bundle e-mail, instant-messaging, security services and other Windows Live entities, plus Windows Live Dashboard – into a "seamless whole." Microsoft is seeking beta nominees over the next week for Windows Live Essentials. The new bundle sounds a lot like Google's GooglePack. No word on when Microsoft will launch the Windows Live Essentials beta. We're betting, like Office Live Essentials, the new Win Live Essentials service will likely be paid, rather than free and ad-supported.