Microsoft launches TagSpace social bookmarking beta

In yet another "Why isn't this a Windows Live service?" development, Microsoft has released a beta of a social-bookmarking tool, code-named "TagSpace."

TagSpace is not meant to replace or compete with Windows Live Favorites, which Microsoft views as "a different animal intended for a much more general audience," as noted by Microsoft Communities product manager Dave Morehouse. Instead, it is designed to be a social bookmarking service for members of Microsoft's product and technology community, Morehouse explained.

"This is the stand-alone service piece, along the lines of del.icio.us or other third-party social bookmarking sites," he said. Ultimately, it will act as "a means for Microsoft.com to begin to aggregate a 'folksonomy' of terms that can be used to enrich and enliven Microsoft-related sites and community properties on the Web."

TagSpace is not meant to be "a replacement for your favorite social bookmarking service (yet!)," Morehouse added.

Microsoft is famous for pitting different teams inside the company against each other, allowing the "best" product/technology to "win." Will there ultimately be a Windows Live Favorites vs. TagSpace face-off? And if that happens, which will win? Or is there room for multiple Microsoft bookmarking services -- one under the Live brand, and others not?