Finally Microsoft has launched its much awaited and speculated new email Service to replace almost two decades old, Hotmail. But its not Newmail as rumoured, it is rather Outlook.com . This launch is aimed to take on the competition by extremely popular Google email service "Gmail".
Microsoft has tried and put in every bit to make it a success. This email service comes with a "virtually unlimited storage" and integrated "Skype". As far as making revenue is concerned, Outlook will serve Advertisements, but Microsoft is saying there won't be display advertisements as Hotmail users never liked the banner Ads on it.
Though the interface has been completely changed, and the domain is shifted, but the email addresses will still carry the @hotmail.com badge with them.
So lets see what has Microsoft brought in with this all new, revamped email service.
On login, you get to see an all new Dashboard, a bit broader in view, though i found somewhat hazy, because of lighter Font color. The design seems OK, in many ways Microsoft has tried to copy its rival Gmail.
Then comes the "Compose New Mail" Window, this is what actually surprised me. Completely new in looks, simplified controls, i guess composing mails will be a lot more easier then earlier, though again the lighter font is annoying. Address bar is included on the left side, with the subject line at the top.
And now you are even not directed to msn.com on logout, you get to see the all new "Bye Bye" page (joking) of Outlook.
The New email service also allows easy use of Microsoft's Internet based services, such as cloud storage service Skydrive for storing documents, Office Web Apps for working away from PC, and will also have built in Skype Video Chat.
But still the success of this service will depend on whether Microsoft will be able to evolve it with growing Gmail, and always-ready-to-change Yahoo.
