Microsoft unveils new look for Hotmail
Microsoft is to give its webmail client Windows Live Hotmail a makeover this summer, the company has announced.
New features including Windows Live Messenger integration and tools to deal with email that isn't spam but not important either will be present in the new version of Hotmail when it is rolled out to the company's 360 million email users.
Though no specific launch date has been said, the company told Web User that extensive testing of the new Hotmail had been taking place within Microsoft, with many company employees participating in "dogfooding" tests.
Microsoft's focus in the new Hotmail is to enable users to be able to take advantage of all features no matter whether you're on your home PC, using a laptop on the move or even in a cybercaf.
This means that you can access Windows Live Messenger through Hotmail, even if the Windows Live Messenger software isn't installed on the PC you are using.
You will also be able to edit Microsoft Office documents within Hotmail, again without having to have the relevant software installed.
"With over 360 million active Hotmail accounts worldwide, we have spent a lot of time listening to customer feedback and thoughtfully designing solutions to meet their needs," said David Law, Windows Live product marketing manager at Microsoft.
Microsoft also said that its efforts to stop spam reaching users' Inboxes were showing improved results, with only 4 per cent of spam messages getting through.
However, the company said that it didn't consider the battle won. "Anything more than zero is still not good," Law told Web User.
Analysts were impressed by the new features. Rob Bamforth, principal analyst at Quocirca said: "The new features in Hotmail reduce Inbox overload by cutting down on clutter and help plait the long tail of email.
"The integrated cloud services offer people a chance to review documents in the cloud, before deciding whether to download them. Collaborative work is made easier as users can view, share and edit Office documents in the cloud," he continued.
