Microsoft quietly launches So.cl social network

Microsoft launches So.cl. (Credit: Screen shot by Steven Musil/CNET) In the wake of the IPO of social-networking giant Facebook, Microsoft has quietly launched So.cl, its own social networking foray. However, So.cl isn't designed to be a Facebook challenger. The project, the details of which leaked out last year, is designed to give students the ability to network with their peers to share information. "FUSE Labs' So.cl project is now accepting all users interested in joining the site," a Microsoft representative told CNET. "So.cl is an experimental research project focused on the future of social experiences and learning, especially among younger people." A standout feature in So.cl is the ability to create "video parties" that allow users to search for and assemble videos they can share with other users.