X
Business

Windows Live OneCare 2.0 beta due imminently

Microsoft is preparing to field a private beta of the 2.0 version of its security-backup subscription service, Windows Live OneCare.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Microsoft is preparing to field a private beta of a new version of Windows Live OneCare, dubbed Windows Live OneCare 2.0

Windows Live OneCare is Microsoft's all-in-one antivirus, antispyware, firewall, backup, maintenance subscription service that Microsoft launched in 2006. In January 2007, Microsoft released OneCare 1.5. Users have enountered various problems with that release, including e-mail deletion problems. Microsoft issued in March a patch for OneCare 1.5 to remedy some of those issues.

The 2.0 release of Windows Live OneCare, according to an e-mail message Microsoft sent to prospective testers (posted by LiveSide.Net), will include a number of new features, such as:

  • Multi PC management - designate a hub PC and then add additional PCs to your OneCare circle using a common Windows Live ID. You can then see the status of the other PCs within the group.
  • Printer Sharing - share your printer with all the PCs in your OneCare circle
  • OneCare Online Photo Backup - paid storage is available online for photo backups (LiveSide says it's hearing 10GB but that could change by the end of the beta)
  • Securing wireless networks - if your router is supported OneCare 2.0 will allow you to secure your wireless network.
  • X64 support

Those interested in testing the new OneCare service can apply online.

OneCare customers: Anything else you'd like to see in the next release of this service?

Editorial standards