Microsoft’s Windows Live Hotmail or just Hotmail to most, has seen a number of improvements in recent memory. Most notably it got an updated look, and they made everything faster.
Now they are rolling out a number of new features, which if users aren’t seeing yet, they will be very soon. New features include:
– More room for messages
– Ever-growing storage
– Info at your fingertips
– More social
– A new way to get Hotmail on your phone
– More Themes
They have removed the banner ad that normally sits at the top of the screen, and have moved it to the side giving you more room for your messages. This combined with the new themes give users an opportunity to view their mail in a more pleasing-to-the-eye manner.
The ever-growing storage feature gives users an automatic 5GB of storage to start out with, but unlike other mail services that offer you tons of space from the get to, Hotmail’s will now simply grow as you need it. So basically, you still have unlimited space, it’s just not being wasted, because it’s not there until you need it.
By “info at your fingertips,” Microsoft means that you can easily add local maps and directions, movie times, etc. to messages with the simple click of a button.
They’ve added a social feature that allows users to open their “Today” page and see the latest stuff their friends have posted to their blogs, or to networks like Twitter, Flickr, etc.
POP3 technology is available to Hotmail users in many countries free of charge. Before, mobile users could access their Hotmail accounts via mobile.live.com, but with POP3, it can make email checking easier by integrating Hotmail into the phone’s program.
The Hotmail Team is encouraging feedback on the new features, and hopes for some suggestions on how to further improve the service. I’d say the new features are a good start.
