Customer jam leaves MS on a sticky wicket

Microsoft's MSN online content service was hit by major network problems last week, leaving customers facing long delays trying to access the company's helplines.

The software giant said the problems were mainly experienced by users trying to upgrade to version 2.5 of MSN, released last week, but admitted existing customers also experienced problems changing account information.

Microsoft was unable to confirm or deny whether the problems would get worse when it sends out more than 10 million CD-Rom upgrades to the majority of its customers early next month.

To add to its woes, the software giant's messaging network was overloaded last week when distribution list problems caused large amounts of email to be sent internally around the company, leaving a vast backlog on users' systems.

Microsoft has struck a deal with internet software company Inktomi to license its search engine technology for use on the internet site msn.com, the free part of Microsoft's MSN online service.