People can use their Windows Live contact information with your site, while keeping complete control of their data. This includes Hotmail, Messenger, and Mobile contacts.

You can build Social Networks using: 

  • Contacts API (Beta). A RESTful API that works on Address Book objects. It allows users to grant and revoke permission to their data on a site-by-site basis. The protocols to manage the permissioning process are provided by Windows Live ID Delegated Auth.
  • Contacts Control (Beta). This control allows users to sign in to Windows Live from your site and conduct a one-time transfer of contacts data. The control requires the user to select and approve contacts for transfer.
Windows Live Contacts API - Beta 1.0

This is an HTTP-based service that enables developers to programmatically submit queries to, and retrieve results from, the Windows Live Contacts Address Book database service.

Windows Live Contacts API provides :

  • Full contact management interface for a Windows Live user's address book
  • View to a subset of the Contact data for the purposes of sending Invitations.

The owner of the data controls each view and set of abilities.

The Windows Live Contacts Web service is exposed to clients in a HTTP/GET request interface with XML response.

Try out the Interactive SDK
Try out the Contacts Control (Beta)

About the Windows Live Contacts API

Contacts Control Mashups samples:

  • Crash a Party
  • Map Your Contacts