Microsoft closing external Hotmail access by end of June 2008

Fastmail.fm ^ | 4/22/08 | papasmurf

[papasmurf]

Summary: Microsoft are disabling WebDAV access to all hotmail.com accounts. This means Hotmail Pop Links and Outlook Express access to hotmail.com accounts will stop working at the end of June 2008.

{snip}

...Microsoft have changed to using a new protocol. Rather than offering an open and standard protocol such as POP or IMAP, they’re using a new one they call DeltaSync for their live.com and new hotmail.com accounts. This protocol is not an open or standardised protocol. It’s a Microsoft proprietary one and only works with their Windows Live Mail, Vista Mail and Outlook Office Outlook Connector.

[papasmurf]

I've been a hotmail user since before M$ bought them, and I've seen a lot dumb changes...this one is about the dumbest.

I guess they are so sure they will get Yahoo, that they think they'll keep their base, one way or another.

BTW, Fastmail.fm is world class email (and more), both their FREE and paid accounts.

[papasmurf]

Ping request please.

[ConservativeMind]

Before everyone gets too upset, you can continue your external access via POP3, but the subscription is $20 a year.

The webmail version will be converted to the Live site, though, but it's pretty attractive and intuitive.

This is actually old news. About six months or more ago, I went ahead and bought my POP3 access. I use it with Thunderbird, the public domain email program.

[ThePythonicCow]

Fastmail.fm is world class

I'll second that. They're the best.

[papasmurf]

Before everyone gets too upset, you can continue your external access via POP3, but the subscription is $20 a year.

Where did you see that? This is the email I rec'd tonight. I think (I could be wrong)what you said only applies to using LiveMail, which I will never install or use...ever.

Dear Microsoft Outlook Express customer,
Thank you for using Microsoft® Outlook® Express. Our information indicates that you use Outlook Express to access a Windows Live™ Hotmail® e-mail account via a protocol called DAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol). DAV, like POP3 or IMAP, is the way that a mail client communicates with a web-based mail server.

As a valued customer, we want to provide advanced notice that as of June 30, 2008, Microsoft is disabling the DAV protocol and you will no longer be able to access your Hotmail Inbox via Outlook Express. As an alternative, we recommend that you download Windows Live Mail, a free desktop e-mail client that has the familiarity of Outlook Express and much more. This next generation of free e-mail software will allow you to easily manage multiple e-mail accounts—including Windows Live Hotmail, plus other e-mail accounts that support POP3/IMAP. Better yet, Windows Live Mail integrates well with other Windows Live services, and downloads in minutes. After you provide your user name and password, you will automatically be linked to your Hotmail account, providing continued access to your email and contacts.

We encourage you to download Windows Live Mail at FastMail.FM WARNING: URL text and host don't match, possible phishing attempt. URL disabled. Original URL='http://microsoft.msn.com/Key=11872.Z3hk.C.CY.Gx2tdv'. Original text='http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview'. For more information on phishing click here..

And, to make your transition smoother, we've provided answers to frequently asked questions below.

Again, thank you for your use of Outlook Express and we are confident that you'll be just as delighted with the new Windows Live Mail.

Your Windows Live Mail team
Frequently asked questions:
Why are we disabling DAV?

DAV is a legacy protocol that is not well suited for client access to large inboxes. Over time, as we've provided more e-mail storage to our users—and now offer 5GB inboxes for free—a more efficient access protocol is needed.

What are we replacing DAV with?

We have developed a new, much more efficient protocol called DeltaSynch that is far superior to DAV especially for large e-mail inboxes. It enables email clients to only download changes since the last time the client polled the email server for changes. This is much more efficient and high performing than having to download all the headers in every folder as is the case with DAV.

Is DeltaSynch compatible with Outlook Express?

The new protocol unfortunately is NOT supported by Outlook Express and support would require too many changes to the Outlook Express software.

Is there a different or new mail client I can try that uses DeltaSynch?

Microsoft is providing Windows Live Mail, a free e-mail client that has the familiarity of Outlook Express and much more. This free, next generation email client enables users to easily manage multiple e-mail accounts including Windows Live Hotmail and other e-mail accounts that support POP3/IMAP. Windows Live Mail also integrates well with other Windows Live services, is optimized to work with Windows Live Hotmail, and offers:

* Offline mail
* Windows Live Hotmail account aggregation for those users with multiple Hotmail accounts
* Account aggregation for POP and IMAP mail accounts
* Rich photo-sharing capabilities
* Advanced search via integration with Desktop Search
* Safety tools (Anti-Virus scanning, anti-phishing, anti-spam features across aggregated accounts for customers who do not have an Anti-Virus product)
* Integration with Windows Live services including Windows Live Spaces
* RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed aggregation
* Ability to send SMS (short message service) text to a mobile phone from Windows Live Mail

Where can I download the new Windows Live Mail client?

You can download the new client at FastMail.FM WARNING: URL text and host don't match, possible phishing attempt. URL disabled.
Original URL='http://microsoft.msn.com/Key=11872.Z3hk.C.CY.Gx2tdv'. Original text='http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview'. For more information on phishing click here..

Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our online Privacy Statement.
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052

[Westlander]

They may be decent, but lessons of English should be on the agenda.

[bigbob]

more proprietary Microsoft crapola when open protocols would do as well? Like the world need *this*

[uptoolate]

Our information indicates that you use Outlook Express to access a Windows Live™ Hotmail® e-mail account via a protocol called DAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol). DAV, like POP3 or IMAP, is the way that a mail client communicates with a web-based mail server

They know too much, don't they

[JerseyHighlander]

Microsoft is ceding the battlefield to the enemy, without a fight.

Very strange move for them in a space where they have a competitive product.

[ConservativeMind]

You need to purchase Hotmail Plus.

The comparison chart at the link shows different providers and the options with each.

“Offers POP to Hotmail Plus users only. Also offers DeltaSync to sync e-mail and contacts (and calendar for Hotmail Plus users) with Outlook or Windows Live Mail.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_webmail_providers

You can also get external access through plugins for Thunderbird, which sort of login and pull the web information for you, in some cases.

http://webmail.mozdev.org/installation.html

[papasmurf]

They’re Americans and Australians. What’s wrong with their English?

[KrisKrinkle]

And what does this mean to someone like me who accesses Hotmail through my browser, never having used Outlook Express?

And having been around FR for awhile, I have to ask how can I separate the serious answers to my question from the series ones?

[papasmurf]

Not really. I use Thunderbird on Ubuntu. LOL Seriously.

FastMail scrapes my account for mail, and brings in onto their servers, which I then use Thunderbird to collect. Sometimes, I’ll manually check it from T-Bird, if I’m impatiently waiting
for an email.

I haven’t used OE for a year and a half...at all.

[papasmurf]

It means nothing if you use the web to get your email, you’re safe. LOL

[tinamina]

Exactly..................I’ve used hotmail for so many years I can’t count exactly but I have NEVER used Outlook, why would I? I wouldn’t recognize Outlook if I saw it but my sister says that’s ALL she uses, for business especially. Ok, I see the pic now. I think.

[papasmurf]

It uses Windows LiveMail as the email client. There will be no WebDav access at all, or pop or imap without using Windows LiveMail.

[Westlander]

are

[papasmurf]

Are, are, are! LOL

[miliantnutcase]

Webmail is taking over slowly but surely. Outlook express is going the way of the dinosaurs. Instead of fixing it’s ridiculous vulnerabilities as a client it’s just going to concentrate on pushing people to use their clunky webmail.

[Westlander]