Bell Canada and Microsoft unveiled a joint Web portal today, combining features of the two Internet sites the companies have been operating separately under a new name: Sympatico.MSN.ca.
Microsoft"s https://www.msn.ca and Bell"s https://www.sympatico.ca have been among the country"s top web portals, providing information content and access to online services such as e-mail.
The new site is the result of a partnership announced last year by the U.S.-based software giant and the Montreal-based phone company, which are also collaborating on television programming over the Internet.
The announcement coincided with the introduction of a custom-built version of the MSN Premium software featuring tools to block pop-up ads, filter unwanted e-mail and parental controls.
The software is available to subscribers of Bell"s Sympatico Internet services at various prices, depending on whether they have dial-up service over regular phone lines or high-speed service over digital subscriber lines.