Microsoft's MSN Platform Drive

Investors may typically ignore Microsoft's(MSFT Quote) MSN division, but a recent flurry of news about the relatively small Internet business suggests its growing importance to the software giant's future.

"MSN is becoming its own development platform for providing services that will accentuate the value of other Microsoft products and platforms," says Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst with JupiterResearch who follows Microsoft.

The oft-cited example is Microsoft's use of MSN to deliver updates and patches to its Windows operating system instead of spending years developing a massive overhaul, as is currently the case. ...