In Japan, Microsoft gives blogging a try

[Steve Bildermann]

Microsoft is turning to Japan to launch its first blog service and aims to have 1 million users in the first year, intensifying competition with Google.

Web logs, or blogs, have been around for several years, serving as online journals for Web-savvy disseminators of information, ranging from personal ramblings and product reviews to social commentary.

News com

It has yet to be decided when Microsoft will launch a blog service in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

Microsoft said its new service, which enables blog writers to update their entries and visitors to have access to blog sites from mobile phones, not just PCs, was well suited for Japan, where nearly 90 percent of cell phones have Internet capability.

[plaid_knight]

I don't care for Livejournal but I would like something that
I could easily post news to . How do I sign up for this?

[Taro Toporific]

I don't care for Livejournal but I would like something that
I could easily post news to . How do I sign up for this?

I've had a Japanese blog for some time now and I'm underwhealmed by the service's xenophobic ban on plain ASCII characters (JIS only).
Microsoft will do it wrong in the Japan--- they ALWAYS do till version 3. If you want a Japanese Blog check out what Gen Kanai says in his blog:

Compare Japanese blog services
July 02, 2004
IT Media has an interesting comparison of the over 26 different blog services in Japan. A year ago, I'm not sure any of these would have been on the list. ...

[kansaiboy]

hang on a sec.. I can post updates on my blog from my cell, my pc and even voice.... ( well in theory, but the app is a little buggy ).... I run Moveable Type on a linux box out of the US.... basically are MS just doing what blogger has done already with a different look and integrating it with Messenger.....?