Microsoft said on its MSN Web site Monday that it would shut down its Encarta encyclopedia by the end of October, citing the widespread availability of reference materials through Wikipedia and other places on the Web.
According to Microsoft, MSN Encarta Web sites worldwide will be gone by Oct. 31, with the exception of Encarta Japan, which will expire on Dec. 31. Redmond will also stop selling Encarta-branded products at the end of June.
"People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past," Microsoft said in a question-and-answer session posted to encarta.msn.com. "As part of Microsoft's goal to deliver the most effective and engaging resources for today's consumer, it has made the decision to exit the Encarta business."
According to Internet traffic analyst company Hitwise, Wikipedia as of January captured 97 percent of online encyclopedia use in the U.S. Encarta, in second place, claimed less than 1.5 percent.
"The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed," Microsoft admitted in its Q&A.
Once viewed as big of a shake-up to the traditional encyclopedia model in its day as Wikipedia is to computerized reference tools now, Encarta goes back roughly two decades to a partnership with Funk & Wagnalls.
Microsoft added that it would post additional information on the phase-out of Encarta to the MSN Web site, and also contact Encarta subscribers directly. The Q&A includes information on how Encarta subscribers can get refunds, and said it is "not making any other announcements at this time" as to whether other Microsoft educational products will be discontinued.
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