Microsoft on Monday launched Vine, a downloadable social networking tool that aims at connecting people when they are in need of help. Released as a Private Beta, Vine is for any group of people who want to stay in touch, informed and involved. According to Microsoft, Vine aims to create an inclusive network that anyone can participate, though a social networking application tool like Twitter or Facebook or using email from a computer connected to the Internet or a mobile phone, kitchen phone or a special needs device.

Microsoft Vine comes with a dashboard that appears on your desktop like an widget. You can sign in with your Windows Live ID. The dashboard displays what’s happening in the places of your interest with the help of a map, articles from 20,000 news sources and public safety announcements from from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Also on the dashboard you will be able to view the alerts and reports from people you care about.

For alerts you will be able to organize people into different groups and define how you want to receive alerts. Alerts are perfect for quickly reaching your friends and family. Besides standard dashboard alerts, you can also send alerts in the form of mobile text messages or email. On the other hand, the reports are those information that you want to share with your people. Decide what you want to share with whom and the information will directly appear on the dashboard of those people. Similarly securely receive what your friends or family wanted to share with you.

The basic version of Windows Vine service will be available to individuals at no cost. But, if you use mobile phone for alerts standard messaging charges may apply. Microsoft also intends to add more services to the application, which organizations and individuals will be able to purchase.

Right now the Microsoft Vine Beta is in private Beta and only available for a limited number of people to download. If you want to use it, you need to get an invitation from someone who is already using it. The Microsoft Vine application runs only on Windows operating systems – Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista. At this time, Microsoft Vine is available only in the United States.

More info: http://www.vine.net