Windows Live Hotmail launched today in 36 languages for its 280 million users. The new Windows Live Hotmail looks very similar to Microsoft Outlook, but it is web based. Windows Live Hotmail has all the expected functions; drag and drop, right click menus, AJAX style fast refresh, integrated Instant Messaging, 2GB of free storage, and great spam filtering. Webware has a pretty good summary of the new features. 
The new spell checker is very good, automatically checking before sending the message. It underlines incorrect spellings and links to an online dictionary for help. Last time I checked Gmail didn't have a spell checker.
Security is much improved as well. There is a Red, Yellow, White banner across the top of each message giving you a visual cue to how safe the message is. Windows Live Hotmail requires entering a password each time you sign in, and after some time interval of non use requires you to re-verify. This is pretty obvious for corporate email users but not so common with consumer web based email systems.
Windows Live Hotmail has 280 million users world wide. YahooMail is in second place, and AOL Mail and Gmail trail distantly at around 50 million users.
Market share for consumer email is very hard to win, and once won doesn't tend to move. People hate to change their email address because all their friends and business relationships are tied to that address. Think about all the newsletters, company update services, frequent flyer programs, customer alerts, and other things that automatically tie to your email address. People might try to new email service but they won't kill their existing one. With 280 million users and growing, and great market share, Windows Live Hotmail will be around for a very long time.
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Don,
I'm a huge Microsoft fan and usually choose their products over everybody else’s, not because its Microsoft and I'm used to them, but because I truly believe that they do a SUPERB job on their products and much better than anything else out there.
But when it comes to webmail, Gmail takes it by a mile hands down. It does have a spell checker (36 languages) but I hardly (if ever) use it. What I like about Gmail is that it is very fast, and their interface works like a charm. I love that they organize and group e-mails by conversation and that there isn't any annoying flashy banners.
To be honest with you, I think that the only reason why they haven't become more popular is exactly the reason you said "People hate to change their email address..."; because if it wasn't for that, they would have been a clear winner in my opinion.
I've tried to use my hotmail account time and time again, but all I get in it is SPAM and I simply don't like the interface as much as I do the Gmail one.
Anyways it won't stop me from using all the excellent much better than anything else, Microsoft products :)
Abe
Posted by: Abraham Sultan | May 07, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Good news.
But still no POP3/SMTP direct access?
That's really a pain, and Hotmail is probably the only major free email service not providing this.
Olivier (former MSftee...)
Posted by: Olivier Ezratty | May 07, 2007 at 11:21 AM
What about Windows Mobile support for IMAP or equivalent?
I am using a Treo 750 with Windows Mobile. Blackberry-esque e-mail support would be awesome.
Posted by: Jason Rubenstein | May 07, 2007 at 01:36 PM
Gmail's had spell checking at least since Oct '04, as I have a email from Gmail support about it making an mistake.
So when did you actually last use it?
Posted by: Simeon | May 07, 2007 at 07:23 PM