Live Connect (previouslyMessenger Connect,Live Services andWindows Live Dev) is a collection of APIs and common controls that allow developers to have a deeper control and offers access to the coreWindows Live services and data through open and easily accessibleapplication programming interfaces (APIs). At MIX07, Microsoft's Senior Architect Danny Thorpe described:[1]
[The Windows Live Platform] today can combine video, photos, contacts, maps, and search into web applications. Users can drop web controls into the web applications with just a few lines of JavaScript and be up and running in a matter of minutes, and they can dive a little deeper to access service APIs directly and define their own UI and process flow. Users have control over what applications can access their private data, and can revoke that access at any time.
Live Connect is built on standard web technologies such asOAuth 2.0,Representational State Transfer (REST), andJavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and is designed to work with any technology or device includingASP.NET,Microsoft Silverlight (in-browser and out-of-browser models),Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF),Adobe Flash,PHP, andJava.[2]
Live Connect was released on June 24, 2010 as part of Windows Live's "Wave 4" release (known then asMessenger Connect), and unites previously separate APIs of Windows Live (Windows Live ID, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Messenger Web Toolkit, and others) into a single API that is based on industry standards and specifications. On September 13, 2011, Messenger Connect was renamed to Live Connect and brings additional APIs for OneDrive and Outlookcontacts andcalendars as well as addingXMPP support for theMessenger service.
Live Connect provides a variety of ways for developers to integrate their applications. Live Connect can be used on websites, in desktop applications, as well asWindows 8 Metro-style apps. Developers may select from several different types of integration, each covering a variety of scenarios, including:[3]
Live Connect include the following capabilities for websites, applications, and devices:
| Service | Implementation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OneDrive | Photos | Allow users upload, view, share or print photos stored on theirSkyDrive from within the developer's website, application, or device. |
| Documents | Allow users open, save, access, and share documents stored on theirSkyDrive from within the developer's website, application, or device. | |
| Outlook | Calendar | Allow developers to access and save calendar appointments to the user'sHotmail Calendar and provide developers the ability to remind their users important events based on their existing Calendar events. |
| Contacts | Allow developers to access their user'sHotmail Contacts list, and allow these users to identify which of their contacts are already members of the developer's website or application. | |
| Messenger | XMPP Interface | Provides APIs for developers to integrate theWindows Live Messenger instant messaging service on their website, application, or device via theXMPP protocol. |
| Status Update | Allow developers to update a user's status onWindows Live Messenger to let their friends know that they are currently using your website or application. | |
| Sharing Badge | Allow developers to integrate a "sharing badge" on their website, allowing users to share the content on the developer's website or application viaWindows Live Messenger. | |
| ID | Authentication | A single sign-on solution which allow users to identify themselves by using theirWindows Live ID to authentication through to the developer's website or application. |
| Profile | Allow developer's website or application to access their user'sProfile data such as name, birthday, work profile, and contact details. |
In addition, Microsoft also offers Windows Live Client Extensibility APIs for Windows Live Client software such asWindows Live Photo Gallery,Writer, andMessenger. These APIs are separate fromLive Connect, and includes the following capabilities:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Messenger Activity SDK | Allows developers to build applications and games that take advantage of the multiuser communication functionality provided byWindows Live Messenger. These applications and games can be accessed via the "Activities" or "Games" menu within aWindows Live Messenger Conversation window. |
| Photo Gallery SDK | Includes thePublishing Plug-in Platform which enables the creation of photo and video publishing plug-ins forWindows Live Photo Gallery, as well asSimple Extensibility Points which provide ways to extend, customize, and integrate withWindows Live Photo Gallery. |
| Writer SDK | Includes theApplication API that allow developers create applications that launchesWindows Live Writer to create new posts or "Blog This" items for links, snippets, images, and feed items, theContent Source Plugin API that help developers to extend the capabilities ofWindows Live Writer to insert, edit, and publish new types of content, and theProvider Customization API that allow developers to customize and add new capabilities to theWindows Live Writer user interface. |