According to The Seattle Times, a beta version of Microsoft's Vine, a new social networking service akin to Twitter debuted Monday in Seattle, aimed specifically at keeping friends and family up to date in any emergency.

Used for sending alerts or reports and for communicating with the user's network via PC or mobile devices, Vine appears as a dashboard on a PC screen showing the local community the status of the user's contacts.

Providing details of the services, Microsoft says as with Twitter or Facebook, you can instantly send messages over Vine, including keeping in touch with the user's specific network of contacts. However, Microsoft intends Vine should only be used in emergencies when it is necessary to keep in touch and informed during times of need.

Though it seems like just another social network, Microsoft clarifies that Vine is a 'social-networking tool', designed to organize and share information between organizations like church groups, sports teams, charities, political groups, neighbourhoods, families, or small companies;

Vine works via a downloaded 'dashboard' application, users can access using their Windows Live account. With the interface looking like a map, geographically pertinent information and notifications pop up if a news story or public safety announcement sourced from over 20,000 local and national news sources, occurs within a specific area, including public safety announcements from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. As well, information associated with people part of the user's Vine network is included, alerting users when their contacts post a report or update their Facebook status.

You can send and receive alerts on Vine from neighbours, friends and others who may need to be contacted in an emergency. Microsoft says the alerts can be sent as e-mail, text messages or other formats, as well as, via social networking applications like Twitter or Facebook. A user's contacts are listed on the personal dashboard, allowing users to see alerts and messages sent out by the individual. Additionally, users can keep track of Facebook status messages, and send communication to neighbors and friends in real-time. For example, if you have been travelling and have come back home, you can let your neighbour know. Users have the ability to decide who can contact them, and whom they wish to contact.

The report section of Vine allows you to spread the word using four simple message templates: keep people informed of situations that matter, tell someone you're safe, out of town or vacation messages, and just general information. Reports can be utilized to share news, events and schedules.

The beta version of the Vine service Microsoft says will be available to a limited number of users in May. Vine is available for computers running Windows XP with SP2, as well as Windows Vista 32- and 64-bit versions.

With Hurricane Katrina, the inspiration behind Vine, in future, Microsoft intends to incorporate more methods of interaction into the Vine service like Twitter, landline phones, and devices for special needs individuals.

A powerful tool, if it is true what Microsoft says it can do, and while no information has been released regarding charging for Vine, however, the company does say basic service will be available for free, with access via a smartphone coming at a premium.

The question is: 'Are you willing to pay for social networking?'