Microsoft has announced the launch of Soapbox on MSN® Video, a "user-uploaded video service that makes it easy for people to express themselves by uploading, discovering and sharing personal videos with the Soapbox community and others around the world."

Microsoft claims that "Soapbox on MSN Video utilizes powerful Web 2.0 technologies to provide a dynamic, fun and entertaining experience." It's interesting seeing Microsoft associate this service with Web 2.0, when "Microsoft" and "Web 2.0" are usually never found in the same sentence.

The service is in private beta and available on an "invitation-only basis". Will this finally be a service that puts a dent in the mighty YouTube? Yahoo Video didn't make much of a splash. Google Video is popular but failed to steal the spotlight from YouTube.

The service will distribute videos using Windows Media technology on Windows Internet Explorer and Flash on other browsers and operating systems.