Outlook.com#IMAP

{{plain image with caption|File:Hotmail logo.svg|Hotmail logo used from 1996 to 1998|150px}}

Hotmail service was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, and was one of the first webmail services on the Internet along with Four11's RocketMail (later Yahoo! Mail).{{cite web |last1=Samuel |first1=Gibbs |title=How did email grow from messages between academics to a global epidemic? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/07/email-ray-tomlinson-history |website=The Guardian |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614105400/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/07/email-ray-tomlinson-history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=LaForme |first1=Ren |title=Not so Hotmail: What your vintage email address says to potential employers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325154343/https://www.poynter.org/tech-tools/2018/not-so-hotmail-what-your-vintage-email-address-says-to-potential-employers-2/|archive-date=2021-03-25|url=https://www.poynter.org/tech-tools/2018/not-so-hotmail-what-your-vintage-email-address-says-to-potential-employers-2/ |website=Poynter |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=2022-02-15}} It was commercially launched on July 4, 1996, symbolizing "freedom" from ISP-based email{{cite web |url=http://4to40.com/legends/print.asp?id=131 |title=Sabeer Bhatiya : The founder of "Hotmail.com" |website=4to40.com |access-date=November 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210043942/http://4to40.com/legends/print.asp?id=131 |archive-date=February 10, 2007 |url-status=dead }} and the ability to access a user's inbox from anywhere in the world. The name "Hotmail" was chosen out of many possibilities ending in "-mail" as it included the letters HTML, the markup language used to create web pages (to emphasize this, the original type casing was "HoTMaiL"). The limit for free storage was 2 MB.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/01/06/a-short-history-of-hotmail.aspx |title=A short history of Hotmail |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2010 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019031323/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/01/06/a-short-history-of-hotmail.aspx |url-status=dead }} Hotmail was initially backed by venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson. By December 1997, it reported more than 8.5 million subscribers.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/hotmail-microsoft-talk-deals/ |title=Hotmail, Microsoft talk deals |work=CNET |date=December 5, 1997 |access-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611171805/https://www.cnet.com/news/hotmail-microsoft-talk-deals/ |url-status=live }} Hotmail initially ran under Solaris for mail services and Apache on FreeBSD for web services, before being partly converted to Microsoft products,{{cite web |url=http://www.lege.com/unix-nt/hotmail.html |title=Solaris calls Hotmail shots for Microsoft |publisher=VNU Business Publications |date=April 22, 1998 |access-date=January 31, 2012 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306180619/http://www.lege.com/unix-nt/hotmail.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1019450/microsoft-uses-solaris-servers-for-hotmail-shock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206155452/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1019450/microsoft-uses-solaris-servers-for-hotmail-shock |url-status=unfit |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |title=Microsoft uses Solaris servers for Hotmail shock |last=Magee |first=Mike |date=December 24, 2002 |access-date=August 1, 2013}} using Windows Services for UNIX in the migration path.{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb496990.aspx |title=Planning Guide for Migrating Microsoft Hotmail from FreeBSD to Microsoft Windows 2000 Technical Case Study |website=Microsoft TechNet |date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=June 23, 2014 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011014112/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb496990.aspx |url-status=live }}

File:Hotmail old screenshot.jpg]]

File:MSNHotmailInbox.png

Hotmail was sold to Microsoft in December 1997 for a reported $400 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=400000000|start_year=1997}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}), and it joined the MSN group of services.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-buys-hotmail/ |title=Microsoft Buys Hotmail |last=Pelline |first=Jeff |work=CNET |date=January 3, 1998 |access-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116191143/https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-buys-hotmail/ |url-status=live }}

The sale had been preceded by a major incident in 1997 where all email was lost for 25% of mailboxes.{{cite web|accessdate=2018-05-12|title=We're F****D, It's Over: Coming Back from the Brink|url=https://scott.a16z.com/2014/03/24/were-fd-its-over-coming-back-from-the-brink/|date=2014-03-24|author=Scott Weiss|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119212734/https://scott.a16z.com/2014/03/24/were-fd-its-over-coming-back-from-the-brink/|url-status=live}}

Hotmail quickly gained in popularity as it was localized for different markets around the globe, and became the world's largest webmail service with more than 30 million active members reported by February 1999.{{cite press release|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/1999/02-08hotmail.asp |title=MSN Hotmail: From Zero to 30 Million Members in 30 Months |publisher=Microsoft |date=February 8, 1999 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514174929/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/1999/02-08hotmail.mspx |archive-date=May 14, 2007}}

Hotmail originally ran on a mixture of FreeBSD and Solaris operating systems.{{cite web |url=http://www.securityoffice.net/mssecrets/hotmail.html |title=Converting a UNIX.COM site to Windows |work=Microsoft Secrets |publisher=Security Office |access-date=November 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108203351/http://www.securityoffice.net/mssecrets/hotmail.html#_Toc491601828 |archive-date=November 8, 2007}} A project was started to move Hotmail to Windows 2000. In June 2001, Microsoft claimed this had been completed; a few days later they retracted the statement and admitted that the DNS functions of the Hotmail system were still reliant on FreeBSD. In 2002 Hotmail still ran its infrastructure on UNIX servers, with only the front-end converted to Windows 2000.{{cite web |last=Orlowski |first=Andrew |date=December 12, 2001 |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/12/12/microsoft_hotmail_still_runs |title=Microsoft Hotmail still runs on U**x |work=The Register |publisher=Situation Publishing |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525083645/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/12/12/microsoft_hotmail_still_runs/ |url-status=live }} Later development saw the service tied with Microsoft's web authentication scheme, Microsoft Passport (now Microsoft account), and integration with Microsoft's instant messaging and social networking programs, MSN Messenger and MSN Spaces (later Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces, respectively).

In 1999, hackers revealed a security flaw in Hotmail that permitted anybody to log in to any Hotmail account using the password 'eh'. At the time, it was called "the most widespread security incident in the history of the Web".{{cite magazine |url=http://archive.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/1999/08/21503 |title=Hotmail Hackers: 'We Did It' |last=Glave |first=James |magazine=Wired |date=August 30, 1999 |access-date=November 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408200533/https://archive.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/1999/08/21503|archive-date=April 8, 2014}} In 2001, the Hotmail service was compromised again by computer hackers who discovered that anyone could log in to their Hotmail account and then pull messages from any other Hotmail account by crafting a URL with the second account's username and a valid message number. It was such a simple attack that by the time the patch was made, dozens of newspapers and hundreds of web sites published exact descriptions allowing tens of thousands of hackers to run rampant across Hotmail. The exploitable vulnerability exposed millions of accounts to tampering between August 7 and 31, 2001.{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/08/20/hacking_hotmail_made_easy |title=Hacking Hotmail made easy |last=Greene |first=Thomas C |work=The Register |publisher=Situation Publishing |date=August 20, 2001 |access-date=September 17, 2008 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614105402/https://www.theregister.com/2001/08/20/hacking_hotmail_made_easy |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1177-hotmail-hole-leaves-email-open-to-view.html |title=Hotmail hole leaves email open to view |last=Knight |first=Will |magazine=New Scientist |date=August 21, 2001 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628214556/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1177-hotmail-hole-leaves-email-open-to-view.html |url-status=live }}

In 2004, Google announced its own mail service, Gmail. Featuring greater storage space, speed, and interface flexibility, this new competitor spurred a wave of innovation in webmail.{{cite web |title=Outlook.com vs. Gmail: What Microsoft Is Still Missing |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2037186/outlook-com-vs-gmail-what-microsoft-is-still-missing.html |work=PC World |date=May 3, 2013 |access-date=September 8, 2013 |first=Ian |last=Paul |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023202548/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2037186/outlook-com-vs-gmail-what-microsoft-is-still-missing.html |url-status=live }} The main industry heavyweights – Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail – introduced upgraded versions of their email services with greater speed, security, and advanced features.{{cite web|last1=Cifuentes|first1=Jamie|title=Farewell Hotmail: Microsoft Completes Outlook.com Upgrade|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2418477,00.asp|website=pcmag|access-date=November 22, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035119/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2418477,00.asp|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Constine|first1=Josh|title=Yahoo Shuts Down Mail Classic, Forces Switch To New Version That Scans Your Emails To Target Ads|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/02/yahoo-shuts-down-mail-classic/|website=techcrunch|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=November 22, 2014|archive-date=December 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202060652/http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/02/yahoo-shuts-down-mail-classic/|url-status=live}}

Microsoft's new email system was announced on November 1, 2005, under the codename "Kahuna", and a beta version was released to a few thousand testers. Other webmail enthusiasts also wanting to try the beta version could request an invitation granting access. The new service was built from scratch and emphasized three main concepts of being "faster, simpler, and safer". New versions of the beta service were rolled out over the development period, and by the end of 2006 the number of beta testers had reached the millions.{{cite web |url=http://hotmailteam.wordpress.com/2006/07/17/m7-new-code-shipping-soon-not-yet-here |title=M7 new code shipping soon – not yet here! |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 17, 2006 |access-date=March 21, 2007 |archive-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719070230/https://hotmailteam.wordpress.com/2006/07/17/m7-new-code-shipping-soon-not-yet-here/ |url-status=live }}

The Hotmail brand was planned to be phased out when Microsoft announced that the new mail system would be called Windows Live Mail, but the developers soon backtracked after beta testers were confused with the name change and preferred the already well-known Hotmail name, and decided on Windows Live Hotmail. After a period of beta testing, it was officially released to new and existing users in the Netherlands on November 9, 2006, as a pilot market. Development of the beta was finished in April 2007, and Windows Live Hotmail was released to new registrations on May 7, 2007, as the 260 million MSN Hotmail accounts worldwide gained access to the new system. The old MSN Hotmail interface was accessible only by users who registered before the Windows Live Hotmail release date and had not chosen to update to the new service. The rollout to all existing users was completed in October 2007.

Windows Live Hotmail was awarded PC Magazine{{'}}s Editor's Choice Award in February 2007,{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2091600,00.asp |title=Buying Guide: Web E-Mail Clients |last=Janowski |first=Davis D. |work=PC Magazine |date=January 31, 2007 |access-date=March 21, 2007 |archive-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225115349/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2091600,00.asp |url-status=dead }} March 2007,{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2107834,00.asp |title=Windows Live Hotmail (beta) |last=Janowski |first=Davis D. |work=PC Magazine |access-date=April 10, 2007 |archive-date=April 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426205634/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2107834,00.asp |url-status=dead }} and February 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363870,00.asp |title=Windows Live Hotmail 2011 |last=Muchmore |first=Michael |work=PC Magazine |access-date=September 29, 2011 |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074321/https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363870,00.asp |url-status=dead }}

In 2008 it was announced that the service would be updated with focus on improving the speed, increasing the storage space, better user experience and usability features, and that sign-in and email access speeds would be up to 70 percent faster.{{cite web |url=http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/comingsoon/en-us/default.htm |title=Coming Soon |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914205548/http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/comingsoon/en-us/default.htm |archive-date=September 14, 2008}} The classic and full versions of Windows Live Hotmail were combined in the new release. As a result of user feedback, Hotmail was updated so that scrolling works for users who have the reading pane turned off. It was also expected that Hotmail team would be moving the advertisement from the top of page to the side, adding more themes, increasing the number of messages on each page and adding the ability to send instant messages from the user's inbox in future releases.{{cite web |url=http://windowslivearchive.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/hotmail-classic-scrolling-is-back-and-more-updates |title=Hotmail: Classic scrolling is back, and more updates |work=Windows Live Wire |publisher=Microsoft |date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=August 1, 2013}}

Support for Firefox in the upgraded Windows Live Hotmail took a few months to complete. By 2009, support for Google Chrome was still incomplete, prompting the Chrome developers to temporarily ship a browser that employed user agent spoofing when making requests to the Windows Live site.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/google-fakes-out-hotmail-for-chrome-support/|title=Google fakes out Hotmail for Chrome support|first=Stephen|last=Shankland|website=CNET|date=January 30, 2009|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204221902/http://www.cnet.com/news/google-fakes-out-hotmail-for-chrome-support/|url-status=live}}

As part of the update, Microsoft also added integrated capability for instant messaging with contacts on the Windows Live Messenger service. The feature was the realization of a project that began as "Windows Live Web Messenger" in 2007, a replacement for the outdated "MSN Web Messenger" service that was first introduced in August 2004. It was noted that the original "Windows Live Web Messenger" featured tabbed conversations in a "conversation workspace", however since its integration with Hotmail this has been removed.{{cite web |url=http://windowslivearchive.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/web-im-in-hotmail |title=Web IM in Hotmail! |work=Windows Live Wire |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104094343/http://windowslivearchive.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/web-im-in-hotmail/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.liveside.net/2007/09/19/windows-live-webmessenger-goes-into-dogfood |title=Windows Live Web Messenger goes into dogfood |publisher=LiveSide.net |date=September 19, 2007 |access-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-date=January 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104180424/http://www.liveside.net/2007/09/19/windows-live-webmessenger-goes-into-dogfood/ |url-status=live }}

Microsoft's search engine Bing was integrated into Hotmail in 2009 through the introduction of a "Quick Add" feature, allowing users to add search results from Bing into emails. These include images, maps and business listings.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/07/09/bing-comes-to-hotmail |title=Bing Comes To Hotmail |last=Arrington |first=Michael |work=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=July 9, 2009 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |archive-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713001140/http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/09/bing-comes-to-hotmail/ |url-status=live }}

File: Windows Live Hotmail screenshot.png

On May 18, 2010, Microsoft unveiled the "Wave 4" update of Hotmail, which offered features such as 1-click filters, active views, inbox sweeping, and 10 GB space for photos, Microsoft Office documents, and attachments.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/05/17/re-inventing-windows-live-hotmail-the-next-generation-of-personal-email.aspx |title=Re-inventing Windows Live Hotmail – the next generation of personal email |last=Craddock |first=Dick |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=May 17, 2010 |access-date=May 18, 2010 |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609011324/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/05/17/re-inventing-windows-live-hotmail-the-next-generation-of-personal-email.aspx |url-status=dead }} It also included integration with Windows Live SkyDrive and Windows Live Office, a free version of Microsoft's Office Web Apps suite. The new version began its gradual release to all Hotmail users on June 15, 2010{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/07/27/hotmail-rollout-picks-up-steam.aspx |title=Hotmail rollout picks up steam! |last=Schackwitz |first=Mike |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-date=August 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130801023647/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/07/27/hotmail-rollout-picks-up-steam.aspx |url-status=dead }} and was completely rolled out on August 3, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/08/03/the-new-hotmail-is-now-available-to-everyone.aspx |title=The new Hotmail is now available to everyone |last=Schackwitz |first=Mike |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=August 3, 2010 |access-date=August 8, 2010 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232301/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/08/03/the-new-hotmail-is-now-available-to-everyone.aspx |url-status=dead }} Exchange ActiveSync support was enabled to all Hotmail users on August 30, 2010, allowing users to sync their mail, contacts, calendar and tasks to their mobile devices that supports the protocol.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/08/30/hotmail-now-supports-push-email-calendar-and-contacts-with-exchange-activesync.aspx |title=Hotmail now supports push email, calendar, and contacts with Exchange ActiveSync |last=Craddock |first=Dick |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |archive-date=December 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223070949/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/08/30/hotmail-now-supports-push-email-calendar-and-contacts-with-exchange-activesync.aspx |url-status=dead }} Addition of full-session SSL was released on November 9, 2010.

Throughout 2011, Microsoft added several new features to Hotmail, such as aliases{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/02/03/hotmail-delivers-aliases-to-help-you-manage-and-secure-your-email-account.aspx |title=Hotmail delivers aliases to help you manage and secure your email account |last=Mehta |first=Dharmesh |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=November 6, 2011 |archive-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225060104/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/02/03/hotmail-delivers-aliases-to-help-you-manage-and-secure-your-email-account.aspx |url-status=dead }} and speed improvements.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/06/30/instant-email-how-we-made-hotmail-10x-faster.aspx |title=Instant email: how we made Hotmail 10x faster |last=Mehta |first=Dharmesh |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004053912/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/06/30/instant-email-how-we-made-hotmail-10x-faster.aspx |url-status=dead }} In October 2011, Microsoft unveiled a "re-invented Hotmail", and added many new features such as Instant Actions, scheduled Sweep, and Categories{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/10/03/hotmail-declares-war-on-graymail.aspx |title=Hotmail declares war on graymail |last=Craddock |first=Dick |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016153139/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/10/03/hotmail-declares-war-on-graymail.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.winrumors.com/hotmail-updated-to-include-gmail-like-tagging-and-more-outlook-features |title=Hotmail updated to include Gmail-like labelling and more Outlook features |last=Warren |first=Tom |publisher=WinRumors |date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105131659/http://www.winrumors.com/hotmail-updated-to-include-gmail-like-tagging-and-more-outlook-features/ |archive-date=November 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.liveside.net/2011/10/03/giving-hotmail-another-look |title=Giving Hotmail another look |last=Kniskern |first=Kip |publisher=LiveSide.net |date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118050204/http://www.liveside.net/2011/10/03/giving-hotmail-another-look/ |url-status=live }} and this update began fully rolling out on November 9, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.liveside.net/2011/11/09/new-hotmail-begins-rolling-out-coming-to-all-customers-in-next-few-weeks |title=New Hotmail begins rolling out, coming to all customers in "next few weeks" |publisher=LiveSide.net |date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-date=November 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114005120/http://www.liveside.net/2011/11/09/new-hotmail-begins-rolling-out-coming-to-all-customers-in-next-few-weeks |url-status=live }} This update also made SSL enabled by default on all accounts.

File:Outlook Preview message add-ins.png

Outlook.com was first introduced on July 31, 2012, when its beta version was made available to the general public. Existing Hotmail customers could freely upgrade to the preview version of Outlook.com and downgrade back.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2012/07/31/introducing-outlook-com-modern-email-for-the-next-billion-mailboxes.aspx |title=Introducing Outlook.com - Modern Email for the Next Billion Mailboxes |last=Jones |first=Chris |work=Outlook Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012 |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818234950/http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2012/07/31/introducing-outlook-com-modern-email-for-the-next-billion-mailboxes.aspx |url-status=live }}

Outlook.com graduated preview stage and launched on February 18, 2013. The upgrade was deployed the same day, users kept their existing Hotmail accounts and received the option of having an @outlook.com email address.{{cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2013/02/18/microsoft-officially-launches-outlook-com|title=Microsoft Officially Launches Outlook.com|date=February 18, 2013|access-date=December 19, 2024}} By May 2013, the upgrade was completed and Outlook.com had 400 million active users. By May 2014, Outlook.com continued to have 400 million active users.{{cite web|last1= Wilhelm|first1= Alex|title= Outlook.com Bests Gmail's Filters With A New Inbox Automation System|url= https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/13/outlook-com-bests-gmails-filters-with-a-new-inbox-automation-system/|access-date= December 26, 2015|work= Tech Crunch|date= May 13, 2014|archive-date= December 27, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151227114037/http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/13/outlook-com-bests-gmails-filters-with-a-new-inbox-automation-system/|url-status= live}}

In May 2015, Microsoft announced it would move the service over to what it described as an Office 365-based infrastructure.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} This was followed in June 2015 by the introduction through an opt-in preview of new features, including new calendar layout options, a filtering service called "Clutter" and new theme designs.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} Microsoft also introduced the ability for third-party providers such as PayPal and Evernote to include add-ins into the service.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} Additionally, contact suggestions and updates from emails such as flight reservations are due to be introduced to Office 365 subscribers' accounts and Outlook.com users' from January and March 2016 respectively.{{cite web|last1=Foley|first1=Mary Jo|title=Microsoft readies new Outlook.com, Outlook on the Web features|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-readies-new-outlook-com-outlook-on-the-web-features/|access-date=December 26, 2015|work=ZDNet|date=December 18, 2015|archive-date=December 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229153034/http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-readies-new-outlook-com-outlook-on-the-web-features/|url-status=live}} With the upgrade, users were no longer able to use the Windows Live Mail 2012 client to synchronize their email, contacts and calendar event using the official settings; they were encouraged to view Outlook.com through a web browser, through the Mail app, or through the Microsoft Outlook client.{{Cite web|url=http://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-windows-live-mail-2012-will-not-connect-new-outlook-com/|title=Microsoft: Windows Live Mail 2012 will not connect to new Outlook.com - MSPoweruser|date=May 5, 2016|website=MSPoweruser|language=en-US|access-date=May 5, 2016|archive-date=June 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614105533/https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-windows-live-mail-2012-will-not-connect-new-outlook-com/|url-status=live}} However, Windows Live Mail could be configured to use the IMAP protocol (or the less effective POP3) to fetch mail only.{{Cite web |url=https://support.office.com/article/Add-your-Outlook-com-account-to-another-mail-app-73f3b178-0009-41ae-aab1-87b80fa94970 |title=Add your Outlook com account to another mail app |work=Office Support |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614105400/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-your-outlook-com-account-to-another-mail-app-or-smart-device-73f3b178-0009-41ae-aab1-87b80fa94970?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-live-mail-stopped-syncing-hotmail-outlook-and-other-microsoft-email-accounts/ |title=[Fix] Windows Live Mail Stopped Syncing Hotmail, Outlook and Other Microsoft Email Accounts |work=AskVG.com |date=June 19, 2016 |publisher=Self-published |access-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828200448/https://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-live-mail-stopped-syncing-hotmail-outlook-and-other-microsoft-email-accounts/ |url-status=live }} Microsoft concluded this preview stage in February 2016, when it began to roll out the new version to users' accounts, beginning with North America.{{cite news|last1= Hachman|first1= Mark|title= What you need to know about Outlook.com as Microsoft brings it out of preview|url= http://www.pcworld.com/article/3034250/data-center-cloud/what-you-need-to-know-about-outlookcom-as-microsoft-brings-it-out-of-preview.html|access-date= February 22, 2016|work= PC World|date= February 17, 2016|archive-date= April 24, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170424004853/http://www.pcworld.com/article/3034250/data-center-cloud/what-you-need-to-know-about-outlookcom-as-microsoft-brings-it-out-of-preview.html|url-status= live}}

File:Outlook.com 2017.png

On August 8, 2017, Microsoft launched a new opt-in beta toggle allowing users to test upcoming changes to the Outlook.com Mail, including a faster inbox, a responsive design, and the ability to search for emojis.{{cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/08/microsoft-outlook-com-beta/|title=Microsoft's Outlook.com beta is a smarter inbox with more GIFs|last1=Fingas|first1=John|date=August 8, 2017|work=Engadget|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044442/https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/08/microsoft-outlook-com-beta/|url-status=live}} There was also an introduction of the Photos Hub, the fifth component of Outlook.com.{{Cite news|url=https://mspoweruser.com/opinion-microsofts-photos-fragmentation-is-driving-me-mad/|title=Opinion: Microsoft's Photos fragmentation is driving me mad - MSPoweruser|date=August 18, 2017|work=MSPoweruser|access-date=September 24, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924135602/https://mspoweruser.com/opinion-microsofts-photos-fragmentation-is-driving-me-mad/|url-status=live}}{{better source needed|date=October 2017}}

On October 30, 2017, Microsoft announced that it would phase out its "Outlook.com Premium" subscription service, which offered features such as expanded storage and removal of ads from the user interface. These benefits were subsequently made available to Office 365 subscribers, and Microsoft will no longer accept new subscriptions to Outlook.com Premium. Existing Outlook.com Premium subscribers may continue to renew their existing subscription.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/30/16572758/microsoft-outlook-premium-office-365-subscription-features|title=Microsoft kills off Outlook.com Premium, bundles features into Office 365|work=The Verge|access-date=October 31, 2017|archive-date=October 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031040807/https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/30/16572758/microsoft-outlook-premium-office-365-subscription-features|url-status=live}}

The old interface, which dated from 2016, was phased out in 2019.

File:Outlook hundreds bus W49 & 11 Av jeh.jpg

Similar to other major webmail services, Outlook.com uses Ajax programming techniques and supports later versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome. Some of its features include keyboard controls giving the ability to navigate around the page without using the mouse, the ability to search the user's messages including structured query syntax such as "from:ebay", message filters, folder-based organization of messages, auto-completion of contact addresses when composing, contact grouping, importing and exporting of contacts as CSV files, rich text formatting, rich text signatures, spam filtering and virus scanning, support for multiple addresses, and different language versions.

One example of a feature no longer present is the ability to create custom domain names.{{cite web| url=http://domains.live.com| title=Windows Live Admin Center| publisher=Microsoft| access-date=December 6, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20131108014006/http%3A//domains.live.com/| archive-date=November 8, 2013| df=mdy-all}}

Outlook.com has promised to respect users' privacy, specifically targeting Gmail's privacy practices.{{cite web|last1=Musil|first1=Steven|title=Microsoft goes after Google with attack on Gmail privacy|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-goes-after-google-with-attack-on-gmail-privacy/|access-date=November 9, 2015|work=CNet|date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105183554/http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-goes-after-google-with-attack-on-gmail-privacy/|url-status=live}} Outlook.com does not scan emails or attachments for advertising information and personal conversations are entirely ad-free.{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/outlook-private#1TC=t1 |title=Outlook.com tips to try - Keep your stuff private |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-date=March 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328011945/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/outlook-private#1TC=t1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/dump-gmail-for-outlookcom-four-reasons-you-might |title=Dump Gmail for Outlook.com? Four reasons you might |last=Hiner |first=Jason |work=Tech Republic |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2013}}

In March 2014, when former Microsoft employee Alex Kibkalo was arrested for his involvement in the 2012 leaking of Microsoft's trade secrets, Microsoft came under criticism for having accessed the email inbox of his French accomplice.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/former-microsoft-employee-arrested-for-allegedly-stealing-windows-8-trade-secrets/ |title=Former Microsoft employee arrested for allegedly stealing Windows 8 trade secrets |last=Foley |first=Mary Jo |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323115607/http://www.zdnet.com/former-microsoft-employee-arrested-for-allegedly-stealing-windows-8-trade-secrets-7000027499/? |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-26677607 |title=Microsoft admits reading Hotmail inbox of blogger |website=BBC |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324022117/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26677607 |url-status=live }} Critics claim these actions violate privacy laws{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/03/21/technology/security/microsoft-email |title=Microsoft defends its right to read your email |last=Pagliery |first=Jose |work=CNN Money |publisher=CNN |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324180447/http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/21/technology/security/microsoft-email/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/microsoft-says-come-back-warrant-unless-youre-microsoft |title=Microsoft Says: Come Back with a Warrant, Unless You're Microsoft |last=Crocker |first=Andrew |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324043127/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/microsoft-says-come-back-warrant-unless-youre-microsoft |url-status=live }} as well as Microsoft's own promises with regards to users' personal information,{{cite web |url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11315126635/microsoft-looked-through-reporters-hotmail-msn-chat-accounts-to-identify-windows-8-leaker.shtml |title=Microsoft Looked Through Reporter's Hotmail And MSN Chat Accounts To Identify Windows 8 Leaker |last=Masnick |first=Mike |website=Techdirt.com |date=March 20, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324043117/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11315126635/microsoft-looked-through-reporters-hotmail-msn-chat-accounts-to-identify-windows-8-leaker.shtml |url-status=live }} while others have pointed out that such access is permitted under Microsoft's privacy policies in order to "protect the rights or property of Microsoft",{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-sniffed-bloggers-hotmail-account-to-trace-leak |title=Microsoft sniffed blogger's Hotmail account to trace leak |last1=Cooper |first1=Charles |last2=Rosenblatt |first2=Seth |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=March 20, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325035141/http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-sniffed-bloggers-hotmail-account-to-trace-leak/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/fullnotice.mspx |title=Microsoft Online Privacy Statement |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322195616/http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/fullnotice.mspx |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }} that it was necessary in order to prevent a crime intended to have inflicted billions of dollars of damage, and that such action on Microsoft's part is unprecedented in 18 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/whats-really-behind-microsofts-investigation-into-software-leaks/ |title=What's really behind Microsoft's investigation into software leaks? |last=Bott |first=Ed |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=March 24, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324080339/http://www.zdnet.com/whats-really-behind-microsofts-investigation-into-software-leaks-7000027588/ |url-status=live }} In response to the criticism, Microsoft has announced that it would no longer access private account information themselves in such cases, but would instead hand the investigation over to law enforcement agencies.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/microsoft-will-no-longer-look-through-your-hotmail-to-investigate-leaks |title=Microsoft will no longer look through your Hotmail to investigate leaks |last=Bright |first=Peter |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329004829/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/microsoft-will-no-longer-look-through-your-hotmail-to-investigate-leaks/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_on_the_issues/archive/2014/03/28/we-re-listening-additional-steps-to-protect-your-privacy.aspx |title=We're listening: Additional steps to protect your privacy |last=Smith |first=Brad |work=Microsoft on the Issues |publisher=Microsoft |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330010303/http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_on_the_issues/archive/2014/03/28/we-re-listening-additional-steps-to-protect-your-privacy.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Outlook.com uses DMARC specifications to provide better security for message transmission and Extended Validation Certificate to secure the user's connection with Outlook.com.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2012/12/10/outlook-com-increases-security-with-support-for-dmarc-and-ev-certificates.aspx |title=Outlook.com increases security with support for DMARC and EV certificates |last=Vitaldevara |first=Krish |work=Outlook Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=December 12, 2012 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185817/http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2012/12/10/outlook-com-increases-security-with-support-for-dmarc-and-ev-certificates.aspx |url-status=live }} On April 17, 2013, Microsoft added two step verification to Microsoft accounts, thereby by extension to Outlook.com.{{cite web|last1=Schroeder|first1=Stan|title=Microsoft Adds Two-Step Verification for Microsoft Accounts|url=http://mashable.com/2013/04/17/microsoft-two-step-verification/#qQPBcgY7zmqT|access-date=November 9, 2015|work=Mashable|date=April 17, 2013|archive-date=December 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227155558/http://mashable.com/2013/04/17/microsoft-two-step-verification/#qQPBcgY7zmqT|url-status=live}}

Outlook also allows for a single-use code to be used instead of a user's password when signing into a Microsoft account. Each code can only be used once, but one can be requested whenever needed. If a user is signing in on a public computer—such as at the library or school—using a single-use code helps keep account information secure. The single-use code is sent to the user when requested during login.{{cite web|last1=Edmonds|first1=Rich|title=A quick look at security features on Microsoft's new Outlook.com email service|url=http://www.windowscentral.com/outlookcom-single-use-codes-and-does-password-length-really-matter|access-date=November 9, 2015|work=Windows Central|date=August 5, 2012|archive-date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405085210/http://www.windowscentral.com/outlookcom-single-use-codes-and-does-password-length-really-matter|url-status=live}}

File:Outlook apps shortcuts.png

Outlook.com integrates with Office for the web to allow viewing and editing of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents that are attached to the email messages. Users can directly open attached Office documents in the web browser, and save them into their OneDrive. Users can also perform edits to any received Office documents, and directly reply to the sender with the edited version of the document. In addition, users may also send up to 25 GB of Office documents (up to 50 MB each) using Outlook.com by uploading these documents onto OneDrive, and share these documents with other users for viewing or collaboration. Users can also save emails to OneNote.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

A preview version of Skype for Outlook.com started rolling out in the UK on April 30, 2013. This feature allows users to make a Skype video call within Outlook.com without using the Skype desktop client.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.skype.com/2013/04/29/type-less-talk-more-make-skype-calls-directly-from-your-outlook-com-inbox/#fbid=44PZKle7Th6 |title=Type Less. Talk More. Make Skype Calls Directly From Your Outlook.com Inbox |last=Longbottom |first=Simon |publisher=Skype |date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2013 |archive-date=May 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503032808/http://blogs.skype.com/2013/04/29/type-less-talk-more-make-skype-calls-directly-from-your-outlook-com-inbox/?#fbid=44PZKle7Th6 |url-status=live }}

Users can create additional, unique email addresses, called aliases, for their Microsoft account. As of April 17, 2013, users can sign in with any alias and create up to 10 aliases per year for a total of up to 10 addresses. For a given account, all aliases use the same inbox, contact list, and account settings—including password—as the primary address. Once an alias is set up, users can choose to have all email sent to that address go to the inbox, or to a different folder.{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/outlook/add-alias-account |title=Add an Outlook.com alias to your account |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511002427/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/outlook/add-alias-account |url-status=live }} Emails sent from an alias do not reveal to recipients that they come from an account with other addresses.

The freeware version of hotmail.com provides a list of almost 50 keyboard shortcuts{{cite web | url = https://www.killerkeys.com/hotmail-keyboard-shortcuts | title = List of Hotmail Keyboard Shortcuts | language = en | website = killerkeys.com | archive-url = https://archive.today/20160730200100/https://www.killerkeys.com/hotmail-keyboard-shortcuts | archive-date = July 30, 2016 | url-status = live | access-date = February 22, 2019 }}, with the exception for the following options: open, delete, archive and reply to all for web users with visual impairment, blindness or other disabilities.

Mail is the webmail component of Outlook.com. The default view is a three column view with folders and groups on the left, a list of email messages in the middle, and the selected message on the right.

Mail's Active View allows users to interact directly with contents and functionality within their email message. For example, any photo attachments can be previewed directly using Active View. In addition, Mail provides a partner platform which allows contents and functionality from various websites and services such as YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, and the United States Postal Service to be viewed directly within the email message. For example, users may view the YouTube video within Mail when a user receives an email which contains a link to the video. Other Active View features include tracking of real time shipping status from United States Postal Service and performing social networking actions on LinkedIn or other social networking sites directly from within the email message.

Mail offers a "virtual broom" which allow users to delete or move large numbers of emails into specified folders based on the sender's information. Once a "sweep" is performed, the user may choose to configure Mail to remember the sweep settings and perform the same move or delete actions for any future emails. Users may also set up custom message rules based on the sender's or recipient's information, the subject of the email, or attachments to the email. There is also an option to delete/move messages that are older than a specified number of days, or only keep the latest message from a sender.

Quick views allow users to filter all emails (in all folders) by document attachments, photo attachments, flagged messages, or shipping updates. One-click filters allow users to filter the inbox (or specific folder) based on whether or not the email message is unread, from the People service list, group mailing lists, or from a social networking website (à la LinkedIn). Categories appear under quick views for ease of access.

File:Outlook Calendar screenshot.png

Outlook's time-management web application was first released on January 14, 2008, as Windows Live Calendar, and was updated to the "Wave 4" release on June 7, 2010. It was updated with Microsoft's Metro design in a phased roll-out to users from April 2, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2013/04/02/take-control-of-your-schedule-with-a-modern-calendar-experience-for-outlook-com.aspx |title=Take control of your schedule with a modern calendar experience for Outlook.com |last1=Dennis |first1=David |date=April 2, 2013 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=April 2, 2013 |website=Outlook Blog |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402224155/http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2013/04/02/take-control-of-your-schedule-with-a-modern-calendar-experience-for-outlook-com.aspx |url-status=live }}

Calendar features a similar interface to desktop calendar applications such as Windows Calendar, and supports iCalendar files for users to import calendar entries into their calendars. It uses Ajax technology which enables users to view, add and drag-and-drop calendar events from one date to another without reloading the page, and features daily, weekly, monthly and agenda view modes. It also features a to-do list function for users to keep track of their tasks to be completed.

Calendar events are stored online and can be viewed from any location. Multiple calendars can be created and shared, allowing different levels of permissions for each user.

Outlook's contacts management service was originally known as Windows Live Contacts and before that, Windows Live People. It provides users with access to their contacts' profiles and information, allowing them to share different information with different groups of people. Besides an address book, People also provides integrated services with social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.{{Cite web|title = People app help - Windows Help|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-8/people-app-faq|access-date = August 28, 2015|archive-date = September 9, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150909141652/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-8/people-app-faq|url-status = live}} The service was rebranded to its current name in 2012, introducing a new interface based on the Metro design language that had already been introduced with Outlook.com.

Contacts are automatically updated in real-time, and the service allows for the removal of duplicated contact entries when imported with Profile. Users can also set limits on what parts of their contact details can be seen by others.

{{main|Microsoft To Do}}

To Do is task management component of Outlook.com introduced during the transition to the Office 365-based infrastructure.

Outlook.com supports email clients connecting through the following protocols, listed in chronological order:

• WebDAV was used by Outlook Express but was discontinued on September 1, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://hotmailteam.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/continuing-dav-protocol-retirement|title=Continuing DAV protocol retirement|work=Mail Call|publisher=Microsoft|date=June 2, 2009|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=January 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104090930/https://hotmailteam.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/continuing-dav-protocol-retirement/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/06/04/microsoft-to-kill-hotmail-via-outlook-express-on-september-1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524211158/http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/06/04/microsoft-to-kill-hotmail-via-outlook-express-on-september-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 24, 2012|title=Microsoft to kill Hotmail via Outlook Express on September 1|last=Stanclift|first=Michael|publisher=Neowin|date=June 4, 2009|access-date=October 26, 2010}}
• Microsoft Outlook 2002, introduced in Microsoft Office XP, included integrated support for Outlook.com accounts.{{cite web |url=http://www.itprotoday.com/office-365/microsoft-office-xp-review-part-4-outlook-2002 |title=Microsoft Office XP Review, Part 4: Outlook 2002 |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Thurrott |date=January 5, 2001 |publisher=Penton |work=Windows IT Pro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107164905/http://www.itprotoday.com/office-365/microsoft-office-xp-review-part-4-outlook-2002 |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |access-date=January 7, 2018}}
• DeltaSync was used by Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Connector, a free plug-in for Microsoft Outlook 2003, 2007 or 2010. Using the Outlook connector, users can freely access email messages, contacts, and calendars in any Outlook.com account, though access to tasks and notes requires a premium subscription. Another alternative for users is to use the Windows Live Mail desktop client, which had built-in support for Hotmail.{{cite web|url=http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview|title=Windows Live Mail|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203121202/http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview|archive-date=December 3, 2008}}
• Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) access was made available for all Hotmail accounts as part of the "Wave 3" release, adding support to access Hotmail from any email client that supported this protocol.{{cite web|url=http://www.liveside.net/2009/03/13/pop3-technology-has-now-rolled-out-to-hotmail-customers-worldwide|title=POP3 Technology Has Now Rolled Out To Hotmail Customers Worldwide|publisher=Liveside.net|date=March 13, 2009|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=November 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124115946/http://www.liveside.net/2009/03/13/pop3-technology-has-now-rolled-out-to-hotmail-customers-worldwide/|url-status=live}}
• Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) support was added as part of the Hotmail "Wave 4" release, allowing users to synchronise not just their email, but also their contacts and calendar on any device that supports EAS.{{cite web |url=http://windowslivepreview.com/hotmail/new |title=Windows Live Hotmail Reviewer's Guide: What's new in Hotmail |publisher=Windowslivepreview.com |access-date=July 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523080259/http://windowslivepreview.com/hotmail/new/ |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}
• On September 12, 2013, Microsoft added support for Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and OAuth.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2013/09/12/outlook-com-now-with-imap.aspx |title=Outlook.com now has IMAP |last=Kafka |first=Steve |work=Outlook Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=September 12, 2013 |access-date=September 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912204726/http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2013/09/12/outlook-com-now-with-imap.aspx |archive-date=September 12, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/we_are_the_outlookcom_team_ask_us_anything/cc6yl6l |title=We are the Outlook.com team, Ask us anything! |publisher=Reddit |date=September 12, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2013 |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614105521/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/comment/cc6yl6l/ |url-status=live }}
• In November 2019, Microsoft added a feature for users to have their emails read aloud in the Outlook app, named "Play My Emails".{{cite web | last=Sevilla | first=Gadjo | title=Microsoft Pivots Cortana as a Productivity Enhancer for Outlook Mobile | website=PCMAG | date=2019-11-06 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pivots-cortana-as-a-productivity-enhancer-for-outlook-mobile | access-date=2024-04-19 | archive-date=April 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419094505/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pivots-cortana-as-a-productivity-enhancer-for-outlook-mobile | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Burrage | first=Eugenie | title=Play My Emails in Outlook and get time back in your day | website=TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM | date=2023-07-04 | url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/outlook-blog/play-my-emails-in-outlook-and-get-time-back-in-your-day/ba-p/930243 | access-date=2024-04-19 | archive-date=April 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419094505/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/outlook-blog/play-my-emails-in-outlook-and-get-time-back-in-your-day/ba-p/930243 | url-status=live }}

Outlook competes with numerous other free public email services such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Proton Mail, Tutanota or GMX Mail.{{Cite web|url=https://mailchimp.com/resources/most-used-email-service-providers/|title=Email Service Providers: 8 Most Popular Email Providers|website=Mailchimp|access-date=September 6, 2023|archive-date=September 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906170636/https://mailchimp.com/resources/most-used-email-service-providers/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-01-31 |title=Most Used Email Service Providers in 2025 |url=https://yournotify.com/blog/most-used-email-service-providers/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Yournotify |language=en-US}}

Like many free webmail services, Hotmail was often used by spammers for illicit purposes such as junk or chain mailing and unwanted marketing, due to wide availability, service popularity, and ease of registration of new accounts.{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/gmail-yahoo-and-hotmails-captcha-broken-by-spammers/1418 |title=Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail's CAPTCHA broken by spammers |last=Danchev |first=Dancho |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=July 3, 2008 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622162055/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/gmail-yahoo-and-hotmails-captcha-broken-by-spammers/1418 |url-status=dead }} However, Outlook does not tolerate this practice; its service agreement states that any account engaging in these activities will be terminated without further warning.{{cite web |url=http://g.msn.com/0TO_/enus |archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20090208120719/http://g.msn.com/0TO_/enus |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |title=Microsoft Services Agreement |publisher=Microsoft |date=May 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/anti-spam.mspx |title=Microsoft Anti-Spam Policy |quote=Microsoft may immediately terminate any account on any Service which it determines, in its sole discretion, is transmitting or is otherwise connected with any email that violates this policy |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804075939/http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/anti-spam.mspx |archive-date=August 4, 2009}}

The ability to associate Outlook.com accounts with mobile phones or other email addresses was initially advertised as an optional feature.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.microsoft.com/cybertrust/2012/08/16/what-if-i-no-longer-have-access-to-my-secondary-email-address/|title=What if I no longer have access to my secondary email address?|first=Eve|last=Blakemore|publisher=Microsoft|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=February 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205003906/http://blogs.microsoft.com/cybertrust/2012/08/16/what-if-i-no-longer-have-access-to-my-secondary-email-address/|url-status=live}} However, an update in 2013 required many users to associate their accounts before the website would allow them to log in – a refusal which could be sidestepped by using an app, such as Windows Live Mail 2011 or 2012, to access the account instead of a web browser (and it remains possible to "associate" an account with a one-use, or otherwise 'disposable', e-mail address).{{cite web|url=http://tedjonesweb.blogspot.com/2013/09/microsoft-is-trying-to-get-my-phone.html|title=Microsoft is trying to get my phone number|first=Ted|last=Jones|date=September 11, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=February 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205015125/http://tedjonesweb.blogspot.com/2013/09/microsoft-is-trying-to-get-my-phone.html|url-status=live}} Some users also saw messages that their accounts would expire if they continued to use them anonymously.

{{further|PRISM|2010s global surveillance disclosures}}

According to TheGuardian.com, several top-secret internal National Security Agency (NSA) newsletters indicate that Microsoft has allowed NSA to access chats and emails on Outlook.com, and implemented a bypass of its advertised encryption in order to facilitate government access.

• One newsletter entry dated December 26, 2012, shows that Microsoft had "developed a surveillance capability to deal" with the interception of encrypted chats on Outlook.com, within five months after the service went into public testing.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data|title=How Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages|last1=Greenwald|first1=Glenn|author-link1=Glenn Greenwald|last2=MacAskill|first2=Ewen|last3=Poitras|first3=Laura|last4=Ackerman|first4=Spencer|last5=Rushe|first5=Dominic|work=The Guardian|date=July 12, 2013|access-date=July 12, 2013|archive-date=November 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119014627/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data|url-status=live}}
• Another entry states that "for Prism collection against Hotmail, Live, and Outlook.com emails will be unaffected because Prism collects this data prior to encryption".

In response to the report, Microsoft stated, among other things, that "when we upgrade or update products we aren't absolved from the need to comply with existing or future lawful demands" and that "there are aspects of this debate that we wish we were able to discuss more freely".

• Comparison of webmail providers

{{Portal bar|San Francisco Bay Area|Companies|Internet}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://outlook.com/}}

{{Microsoft Office}}

{{Windows Live}}

{{Microsoft}}

{{Calendaring software}}

Category:Internet properties established in 2012

Category:Microsoft email software

Category:Microsoft Office

Category:Webmail

Category:Windows Live

Category:Microsoft websites

Category:1997 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Microsoft acquisitions

Category:Internet properties established in 1996