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Get your Windows Live Hotmail mail in Outlook

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If you haven’t tried Windows Live Hotmail, I suggest making the update, especially if you’re already using Hotmail. I’ve been using Hotmail for more than 6 years and really enjoy the new capabilities in the latest version, some of which include:

  • Using 2GB of storage
  • Listening to songs and voice mail messages using a built-in audio player. You can listen to MP3 and WAV files.
  • Detecting when a contact is online. A Windows Live Messenger window will pop up when you choose to chat.
  • Using an inline spelling checker, which underlines misspelled words and connects to a dictionary and thesaurus, just like in Microsoft Office Word.
  • Avoiding potentially dangerous messages. The security bar on top of incoming messages turns yellow or red according to the potential danger. Hotmail won't block senders from your contact list, but most messages won't show pictures or links until you allow them. I've found it to be a pretty straightforward buffer zone against phishing and other scams.

You can learn about other the Hotmail features at the Windows Live Hotmail site.

What I want to tell you about is the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta, which is now available to download. With it, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts. I’ve used it a couple of days, and I’ve found it much easier to get mail from multiple accounts in one place.

So why is the Outlook Connector useful? The Outlook Connector gives you a better experience than Hotmail, at least in my opinion. It shows your folder structure, keeps track of read and unread messages, and shows you your contacts (and calendar for paid users). I use Outlook at work, so I'm much more comfortable with the user experience. If you’re already using Outlook, particularly with multiple e-mail accounts, the Outlook Connector is a great way to manage your accounts together with powerful tools.

--Jason Kozleski

Comments

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2007
    I know this is a little off topic, but do you guys really think I would sign up for something with a name "Windows Live Hotmail mail"? Hotmail - that makes sense, but what is Windows Live Hotmail Mail? Is it Windows? Is it Live? Is it Hotmail?

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2007
    It's really nice to know there's a way to have an access to Windows Live Hotmail via Microsoft Outlook. I hope Microsoft Office Outlook Connector can be out of beta as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention.

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2007
    Why should I use a Connector? If hotmail would use internet STANARDS like POP3 and SMTP this would be easier! As long as hotmail does not support these standards, there is only ONE solution: use another email provider that supports POP3 ;-) --> no need for a unnecessary software and fullfilment of standards ;-)

  • Anonymous
    July 27, 2007
    I want my Outlook Express back again as before

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I'm quite confused after "updating" my service to Windows Live Mail.  Are you saying here in your post that the Server Information for using Outlook to access Windows Live Mail will change or has changed?  Currently, in my Outlook Email Accounts dialog for my MSN account, the "HTTP Mail Service Provider" selected from the dropdown list is "MSN".  Beneath that, dimmed/disabled is the "Server URL" which reads: "HTTP://oe.msn.msnmail.hotmail.com/cgi-bin/hmdata". As a side question: when I clicked the link in my email to "update" my service to Windows Live Mail, what actually happened?  I guess I'm wondering also if I will be forced to use a browser now to access msn mail instead of my using my Outlook client. Thanks for any clarification and enlightenment anyone can share with me!

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    September 03, 2007
    How do I retrieve my lost email in my outlook express thanks

  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2007
    I also use Outlook at work as well as OWA for two other accounts so I am naturally confortable with Windows Live Hotmail configured with Outlook. I like the new features that Windows Live Hotmail has to offer but I will confess that I open it up on average, 60 percent of the time with Outlook. Both are great so no complaints from this end.

  • Anonymous
    September 10, 2007
    How do you make a "favorite contacts" list in this revolutionary new gidget, The Windows Live Hotmail?