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Hotmail overhaul continues as new Android app "trends"

by Steven Williamson on 5 October 2011, 10:25

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows Live Hotmail

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Microsoft’s overhaul of Hotmail has continued this week with the launch of the second phase of improvements aimed at bringing the web-based email service back into public demand.

Having launch back in 1996, Hotmail swiftly established itself as the premier email service on the Internet, but slipped out of public favour when the likes of Google’s Gmail and Yahoo Mail services arrived offering better features, increased storage space and a more streamlined interface.

This week Microsoft has revealed five new features that will be rolled out in the coming weeks and help users clean up their accounts and streamline “graymai',” including the ability to unsubscribe to emails in one-click, schedule clean-ups and flag mail.

These new features, as detailed in full on the Windows Blog, were followed by the launch of the new Hotmail app for Android which has immediately “trended” on the store with over 50,000 downloads. The Hotmail app features the likes of push email, calendar and contact synching and allows you to send pictures as attachments via your phone.



Judging from the reviews of the Android marketplace so far initial reaction is mixed with some Hotmail users praising the app for the simple clean interface while others complain of bugs and lack of features.

Here are some of the reviews so far:

"Not close. This app doesn’t cpmpare to the Yahoo or gmail app. Microsofft came close but needs to try again."- Toomuchfortv

"THANKYOU!!! I love ythis app! Push notification works great. I’d really like to see a ‘Move T’ button when I checkmark items in my inbox." - BRIAN

"Works great. Now I love my Android even more." - Sa’M

"Needs work! Pros1. Push HTML email on android. Cons 1. Poor battery life 2. Needs better message navigation.! - Aashish

Finally, It’s been working without problems. I love the app security lock and you can synch folders." –MaC

As this the first version of the app we’d expect Microsoft to fix current issues and add new features over the coming weeks. The final phase of Hotmail's transformation will be completed in early 2012.

Download the official Hotmail app for Android


HEXUS Forums :: 17 Comments

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I've just reactivated my Hotmail account from many moons ago to see whether it's worth heading back.
I'm not sure I want to log back in to the festering pit of spam that is my hotmail account….
Thanks for the tip Hexus. :hexlub:

Just downloaded it and set it up, and it looks okay on the face of it - nice to have my “secondary” accounts (Hotmail and GMail) now both accessible on the move.

Only obvious downside is that the app is a bit porky - 10MB+ so obviously a candidate for App2SD.

One point of confusion - isn't Android the “enemy” as far as Microsoft is concerned. In which case why bother with an official Android app (given that anyone who wants to use Hotmail on that platform could probably use one of the 3rd party apps that are on GMP)?

Edit: darn - it's not movable to the SD card. :(
crossy
Thanks for the tip Hexus. :hexlub:

Just downloaded it and set it up, and it looks okay on the face of it - nice to have my “secondary” accounts (Hotmail and GMail) now both accessible on the move.

Indeed i have been waiting for this for a while, about time Microsoft!

crossy
One point of confusion - isn't Android the “enemy” as far as Microsoft is concerned. In which case why bother with an official Android app (given that anyone who wants to use Hotmail on that platform could probably use one of the 3rd party apps that are on GMP)?
I think trying to force people into a microsoft platform by denying Android of hotmail is more likely to kill hotmail then increase their share of the mobile phone market. The problem they face is that people have already transitioned into Gmail due to the fact its integral to Android and its implementation is also quite good on iPhone. Hotmail is often left as a spam account, thats all mine is used for! I use it to sign up to websites that are likely to send me a load of crap. Even if they manage to clean it out and make it a viable e-mail platform once again, i dont fancy switching back unless i really have to.
The third party hotmail apps for Android are utter garbage, none of them work properly at all (that i have tried anyway). As soon as i get my mobile sorted (battery seems to have died) i will be trying this out!
Does this ‘mark as read’ in your account when you've read the e-mails on your phone? That's the only drawback I find with android's mail client…