Live Services - Licensing FAQ

What does it mean that the group of authenticated Live Services (including User Data, Notifications, Communications and Presence) will be available for a single per unique user fee of USD $0.02 per unique user (UU) per month? Can I pay for just one API?

The USD $0.02 per UU per month fee covers the usage of User Data, Notifications, Communications and Presence Live, Services, whether you incorporate one service or multiple services on your Web site. This is intended to simplify tracking on your Web site with a single pricing model.

I only use Windows Live ID on my Web site for authentication. I don’t use any of the other Live Services, like the Windows Live Contacts API. Will I be charged?

No. Use of the Windows Live ID Web Authentication service is currently free.

I’ve incorporated several Live Services into my Web site, including the Windows Live ID service and Windows Live Contacts API. My site has 3 million registered users, but only 500,000 registered users log in each month using Windows Live ID and Live Contacts API. Will I need to pay for all 3 million users to use these services?

You will not be charged for your Web site’s total user base of 3 million. You will be charged only for unique users who are visitors: 1) that authenticate using their Windows Live ID (directly or through delegation), and 2) whose actions (their own or their delegate’s) result in server requests to Live Services to access their data. In this situation, there are 500,000 UUs each month, which is less than the “free” threshold of 1 million unique users for Windows Live Contacts API, so there would be no fee.

I’ve incorporated the Windows Live ID service, Windows Live Messenger Library, and Windows Live Contacts API into my Web site. My site has 3 million registered users, but only 500,000 registered users log in each month using Windows Live ID, Windows Live Messenger Library, and Windows Live Contacts API. Which users do I need to pay for?

In this case, there are 500,000 UUs each month, which is greater than the “free” threshold of 250,000 unique users for Windows Live Messenger Library, so you would be responsible for 500,000 unique users that month – even though the number of users using the Windows Live Contacts API is below the “free” threshold for that service.

How will I know when my Web site has exceeded any of the free usage thresholds?

Once the services emerge from beta, we will notify you using the e-mail address you used to register your domain when you exceed any of the free thresholds. At such time, you will need to enter into a commercial agreement. More information will be provided when available.

When will you begin charging for access to Live Services?

We will charge for Live Services when they emerge from beta. The Alerts API is released, but is currently available at no charge while the other authenticated Live Services are in beta.

When will you have pricing for Microsoft Silverlight Streaming by Windows Live?

Microsoft is in the process of evaluating Silverlight Streaming and will provide pricing details when this information is available.