Hotmail, perhaps the first major success of Web 1.0, has evolved.
Microsoft has announced the launch of Windows Live Hotmail globally in 36 languages, complete with AJAX goodness.
The new service has been built to be a vast improvement over the previous Hotmail offering, incorporating input from more than 20 million beta testers. However todays offering is only the move from beta to roll out.
We’ve covered Windows Live Hotmail previously: back in February Michael Arrington took a look at the then beta service and the results weren’t positive, the new Hotmail ranking third behind Gmail and Yahoo! Mail.
Windows Live Hotmail launches with an initial 30 million users, with over 250 million additional users to be bought across in the coming months.
The new Hotmail is built on completely new code and marks the continued consolidation around the Windows Live brand.
In the coming weeks, Microsoft will be releasing a new free mail client meant to replace Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live desktop. The new client is called Windows Live Mail and will be a desktop client that provides Hotmail’s feature set locally on a users desktop. It will also support management of non Hotmail accounts.
There is some added benefits of logging into the new Hotmail; support is built in to allow Instant Messaging of contacts, or VOIP call contacts, with one click, which will also tie in with the Microsofts desktop IM platform.
How many Zunes MS send to you for writing this posting?
If this is all Microsoft could come up with to compete with Gmail, then Google have *nothing* to worry about.
The big banner at the top is one of the stupidest things Microsoft could’ve done. For a better WLM experience, use Firefox and AdBlock+ (it completely removes the top banner).
(Though Windows Messenger will continue to lanch IE through the ‘Email inbox’ meni item and other email-related commands, unless you install something like StuffPlug which will make it user the default browser instead).
Given the amount of time and money has Microsoft invested in WLM, and this is all they’ve come up with, it’s disappointing.
I like many others here still prefer gmail. I don’t think gmail is perfect but I like it better than the hotmail or yahoo alternatives.
It is good and I have been with the beta testing also.
It however needs a high speed internet to enjoy the experience
Well thanks dadsp33k for sharing your opinion, I said it “should” be a Gmail killer… which does not mean I think it is - and I made that even clearer at the end. Quite clearly you didn’t read the rest of my post before deciding to comment on my intelligence. Which in my book makes you the idiot.
tu y yo somo valientes
evangelist
i am a 10 year old d and i think that windows live beta is a rip of. i really like the ld original one