RSSLive Mail Desktop Makes Beta Debut
By Ed Oswald | Published March 29, 2006, 9:29 PM
Microsoft has begun a limited beta test of its upcoming Windows Live Mail Desktop, BetaNews has learned. The offering is intended to provide users of Windows Live Mail and Hotmail with client-side access to e-mail services. While such a feature was previously only available to paid subscribers, Live Mail Desktop would expand the offering to all users.
"We felt it was important to enable broader email client access to our customers, but also balance these needs with those of running a responsible business," a Microsoft spokesperson said.
The Windows Live Mail Desktop client will be similar to Outlook Express in the way it operates, but it is optimized to integrate Microsoft's Live platform. The application would also provide functionality for users of Windows Live Contacts, Messenger, Spaces, and other such services.
Free customers would be subjected to advertising within the application, however, while subscribers would see no ads in the client. The software is slated to go into a broader beta by summer, with more widespread availability by the end of the year.
"Around 100 beta members will be sent a survey link starting Wednesday, with feedback collected over the next 7 days," the company said. "If this 100-group has a good beta experience, the group will be expanded to around 5000 within the next few weeks."
Windows Mail in Vista will not be replaced before the new operating ships later this year, indicating that Live Mail Desktop will be offered as a free download for users seeking out added functionality.
I like it.
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|Ads Huge Ads.
Gmail continues to be the best.
I understand the whole more app like idea, but still where the hell is innovation.
innovation+creativity+simplicity=success
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|"innovation+creativity+simplicity=success" plus ads = profitability.
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|I think the Yahoo! Mail Beta is taking really too long to be publish like regular Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Plus. I wish I can get Yahoo! Mail Beta a try.
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|please add me in your google talk
john.new2@gmail.com
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|I think www.liveside.net does or the Desktop Mail blog.
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|Screenshots anyone?
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|"We felt it was important to enable broader email client access to our customers, but also balance these needs with those of running a responsible business,"
more like...
"We felt it was important to enable broader email client access to our customers so that Gmail doesn't put us out of business."
Gmail has had POP3/SMTP access for a while now, and I love it. Been using some Thunderbird plugin to send/receive mail with hotmail.
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|@ albodude: Its not "Live Mail", its "Live Mail Desktop" client, that replaces the older 'Windows Mail' and / or 'Outlook Express'.
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|Live Mail started weeks ago, not just today or yesterday. Unless I am one of the 100 beta testers :D (I aplied a month ago and I got the invitatin within a week)
It works nice, unless the advertisments which are a pain in the ***
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|provide users of Windows Live Mail and Hotmail with client-side access to e-mail services. While such a feature was previously only available to paid subscribers..........
i remember few years back when u can use outlook to retrieve hotmail for free....then i got an email saying..."any new hotmail accounts will have to pay for this service, but dont worry anyone who has already begun using it will not be affected"...
:-)
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|wow !! thats real cool......
Now web apps are marching towards desktops (client interface).
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