Microsoft Introduces Online Party Planning

Designed as an extension of it's social network, Microsoft's Events Live creates a central spot for party-goers to learn about an event, talk about it, share photos and more.

RSVP cards in the mail just don’t cut it anymore. Event planning has moved online, and Microsoft is trying to get a piece of the pie with the addition of events to its Windows Live service. The company began the site’s launch on Thursday.

Windows Live Events allows users to set up an event, invite friends, talk about it and share photos when it’s over. Microsoft offers a range of colorful templates to design the event pages, plus additional features like the ability to add a map or display the forecast for the day of an event.

Events meshes with Live Spaces, Microsoft’s existing social networking platform designed to compete with the likes of Facebook and Myspace. Both competing services already offer ways to create events, and Evite offers similar features without the accompanying social network.