Live Hotmail launched by Microsoft

Corporate IT Update, May 8, 2007

CORPORATE IT UPDATE-(C)1995-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Software company Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq:MSFT) announced on Monday (7 May) that Windows Live Hotmail, the successor to MSN Hotmail, is launching globally in 36 languages.

According to the company, the new service includes input from over 20m beta testers and is expected to deliver a safer and more productive e-mail experience than previous versions with flexible access via the web, on a mobile phone or with an e-mail client. Microsoft also announced that later in May 2007 Windows Live Hotmail customers will be able to access their Windows Live Hotmail e-mail and contacts for free using Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Office Outlook 2007 via the new Microsoft Office Outlook Connector beta.

Windows Live Hotmail is reportedly offering the following new features: two views - a classic version that looks similar to MSN Hotmail and a new interface that looks like the Outlook software; Windows Live Messenger presence built into Windows Live Hotmail so customers can see from their inbox if their Messenger contacts are online; inbox storage size starting at 2 GB; safety bar, which indicates the status of the e-mail with a visual cue; as well as improved spam protection.

Microsoft also said it will introduce an additional e-mail client option for Windows Live Hotmail with the release of Windows Live Mail beta, a free consumer e-mail client available to download that will be a successor to Outlook Express and Windows Mail on Windows Vista.

Consumers can visit http://www.hotmail.com to sign up for a new Windows Live Hotmail account and current MSN Hotmail customers can update their existing account to Windows Live Hotmail by logging into their account and clicking on the Join Windows Live Hotmail button.

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