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Travelers Can Opt to Receive Instant Flight Status Notifications Directly on Their Desktops and Mobile Devices

Microsoft Corp. today announced United Airlines has implemented the Microsoft® .NET Alerts service to offer United customers instant flight status information. The .NET Alerts service uses MSN® Messenger, Microsoft Windows® Messenger and MSN Mobile service to send time-sensitive notifications directly to a customer's desktop computer, cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). By using .NET Alerts, customers traveling on United Airlines can receive important travel notifications of flight departure and arrival times, delays, cancellations, seat upgrades and more, in a timely and effective manner. The Microsoft .NET Alerts service further expands United's EasyUpdate offering, which currently notifies travelers of critical flight updates via phone calls, fax or e-mail messages, or wireless text messaging using technology provided by Centerpost Corp.

"United Airlines' implementation of .NET Alerts is a great example of how the technology can offer businesses the ability to more deeply connect with customers, offering more unique, value-added services, enabling their customers to make the most of their time," said Umaimah Mendhro, product manager for .NET Alerts at Microsoft. ".NET Alerts gives consumers critical, relevant information when and where they need it most -- an offer particularly valuable for travelers."

With more than 100 million people worldwide currently using the Microsoft instant messaging network , which includes Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger, there is great opportunity for companies to offer value-added services and build closer relationships with their customers.

News source: Microsoft PressPass

During first stage of V5 beta, we will be concentrating on two major issues:
WU Web Site beta testing - including gross and detailed site functionality, site UI, and site text

1. WU content Beta testing - all content delivered through the WU site (with the exception of Security Updates, there is another channel for those) will have a specific beta release/test period. This includes driver update content.
   
2. After the initial beta period, the WU V5beta program will continue to be involved in Beta update testing of software and driver content prior to their RTW ('going live') on the v5 site.
   
3. Platform - current plans for V5 Beta are that all beta testers will require a platform of windows 2000 SP2 and later, for a testing platform.
   
4. No one in either WU Beta or Office Beta groups have been enrolled in the V5 beta program, yet.

Neowin Note: This is probably the reason for the previous questionnaire on betaplace asking "Which Operating systems do you want to see on Windows Update" so if you haven't completed the questionnaire yet now might be a good time to do so.