News
Vista E-Mail Client Replaced by Live Hotmail
Windows Vista's mail client is obsolete after just a few months of life as
a commercial product.
In its announcement Monday of the launch
of Windows Live Hotmail, Microsoft stated that in the next few weeks it
would be releasing a new "e-mail client available via download that will be
a successor to Outlook Express and Windows Mail on Windows Vista." Vista officially
launched last Jan. 30.
Live Hotmail, the successor to Hotmail, took two years of work, and was rebuilt from the ground up, according to Microsoft. More than 20 million beta testers helped Microsoft craft it, and more than a million pieces of feedback were taken, according to a Windows Live blog.
In the same announcement, Microsoft also stated that later in May it would be releasing the Outlook Connector, which will allow Live Hotmail users to access their accounts through Outlook. For those without Outlook, Microsoft will be releasing connectors allowing access through any POP or IMAP account.
No reason was given by Microsoft for the mothballing of Windows Mail, but the company has been rebranding many products under the "Live" umbrella. For those who prefer their Hotmail the way it is today, Microsoft -- at least for the present -- is allowing users to keep the pre-Live interface and functionality.
About the Author
Keith Ward is the editor in chief of Virtualization & Cloud Review. Follow him on Twitter @VirtReviewKeith.