New reports are today suggesting that Microsoft is planning to kill all Windows LIVE and Zune accounts and replace them with one unified service called Microsoft Account. This is what Windows LIVE and Zune accounts are called in Windows 8, so it is expected for other services to follow suite.
The Verge is reporting that Microsoft is planning to replace all Windows LIVE and Zune accounts with a unified service called Microsoft Account. This will be very similar to your normal Windows LIVE or Zune account, accept everything will be unified under one name.
According to the report, Microsoft has removed the Windows LIVE branding from Windows 8, and replaced it with ‘Microsoft Account’. Zune on the other hand, has been completely removed from all Windows 8 apps, and combined into Microsoft Account.
The debranding of Zune is just another move towards unifying all of Microsoft’s services, you will still be able to login to your account Windows LIVE accounts via your Windows LIVE ID, but account management will be handling under the ‘Microsoft Account’ name.
The Verge has put together a nice list, revealing what the new names for old services are:
• Microsoft Account (Windows Live ID)
• Mail (Windows Live Mail)
• Calendar (Windows Live Calendar)
• People (Windows Live Contacts)
• Photos (Windows Live Photo Gallery)
• Music (Zune Music Player)
• Video (Zune Video Player)
Further reading: Microsoft
