Windows Live QnA

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Windows Live QnA
Windows Live QnA homepage
Developer:	Microsoft
Use:	Knowledge Market
Website:	http://qna.live.com

Windows Live QnA is a question and answer service, part of Microsoft's Windows Live range of services. It is somewhat similar to Google Answers, but closer in function to Yahoo! Answers. The service is currently in a public beta, and is available for testing. Users can ask questions, tag them according to topic, and gain points and reputation for answering other users' questions.

The service is community based; questions are posed to the whole community, rather than just one researcher. At this point there are apparently no plans for any monetary compensation of any kind for answering questions; rather, like with Yahoo! Answers, the only rewards are having high point counts and good reputation. In order to open an account a user needs a Windows Live ID, and abide to the Code of Conduct.

Windows Live QnA is integrated with Windows Live Search allowing users to search on the web and QnA. Questions are "tagged" by the poster to allow easy searching and navigation.

[edit] Levels, Scoring and Reputation System

Users are given four days to answer a question. Questions can be rated for their usefulness once a best answer has been selected. The scoring system is weighted to encourage users to participate and answer questions. Scores are awarded by answering questions and voting for answers. Bonus scores are awarded for creating the best answer or voting for the best answer. Generally, the user's QnA score will rise more quickly if their votes are for quality answers. A user is limited to 100 votes per day.

QnA users also have a reputation system under their profile that allows other users to know how likely their answer is a good one, based on the user's past performance. This is shown by the number of stars under their username. This is a lifetime rating, so all users begins with zero stars and as time passes, their reputation will change. The reputation system is based on the number of best answers given over time as a percentage of total answers given. It is also possible to affect a reputation negatively.

Action	Scores
Sign into QnA	1
Vote	1
Vote for winning best answer	4
Rate completed question	1
Answer a question	5
Give best answer to a question	20
Violate code of conduct	-50

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Level System

1. 20-499 scores
2. 500-999 scores
3. 1,000-1,999 scores
4. 2,000-3,999 scores
5. 4,000-7,999 scores
6. 8,000-14,999 scores
7. 15,000-29,999 scores
8. 30,000-49,999 scores
9. 50,000-99,999 scores
10. 100,000+ scores

[edit] External links

• Windows Live QnA
• Windows Live QnA blog on MSN Spaces
• "More Questions and Answers: Windows Live Answers" on LiveSide.net
• "Microsoft Q&A service on the way?"