Definition:
Hotmail is one of Microsoft’s web-based e-mail services, currently called Outlook.
What is Hotmail?
This is a free e-mail service. It is considered Microsoft’s first Internet-based electronic messaging service.
The user only has to register to start receiving or sending emails. In 2013, during its transition to @outlook.com, it had a total of 900 million customers.
Origin
Hotmail was founded in 1996 by entrepreneurs Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, who saw an opportunity to create an email service accessible over the Internet. Their vision revolutionized the way people communicated, allowing access to email from anywhere with a network connection.
A year later, in December 1997, it was sold to Microsoft for $400 million and attached to Messenger services. It marks a turning point there, the basis of its popularity of the service, since it crossed different markets and became the main webmail service in the world. In 1999 it had more than 30 million active users.
Milestones in the evolution of Hotmail:
- 1996: Hotmail founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, introducing Microsoft’s first web-based e-mail service.
- 1997: Acquisition of Hotmail by Microsoft for 400 million dollars, integrating with Messenger services.
- 1999: Hotmail reaches more than 30 million active users, consolidating its position as the leading global webmail service.
- 2004: Microsoft launches a new version of Hotmail, improving the interface and adding features such as extended storage and spam filters.
- 2013: Hotmail is transformed into Outlook.com, offering a renewed user experience and the integration of new functionalities, such as online document editing and Skype integration.
- 2021: Microsoft continues to enhance Outlook.com, adding advanced security features and improving integration with other Microsoft 365 services.
Hotmail Features
Hotmail, now integrated into Outlook.com, offers a number of features designed to enhance the user experience and make e-mail management easier. From its intuitive interface to its unlimited storage, Hotmail combines functionality and accessibility, allowing users to send and receive e-mail efficiently. Here are the main features that make Hotmail a valuable tool for everyday communication.
- Intuitive interface: Hotmail offers a complete and simple interface that makes it easy to send and receive files in various formats without compatibility problems. Following its merger with Outlook, it allows you to view and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents online.
- Unlimited storage: One of the most valued features of Hotmail is its unlimited storage, which adapts to the user’s needs.
- Sending large files: The service allows sending large files, larger than 25 MB, directly, facilitating the transfer of information.
- Multi-device access: Users can access their Hotmail account from any device, ensuring flexibility and convenience in email management.
- Intelligent organization: Hotmail allows you to sort mail and documents systematically by date, subject, file size or conversation, which improves mail management efficiency.
- Spam filtering: The platform has effective software to filter unwanted emails, minimizing the impact of spam in the inbox.
- Simplified networking: Hotmail facilitates the creation of a network of professional contacts, allowing users to easily find contacts registered on the platform.
- Integration with Skype: The merger with Outlook also includes integration with Skype, which adds additional functionalities for communication.
How to optimize the use of Hotmail
To maximize your Hotmail/Outlook experience, here are some tips and best practices:
- Organize the inbox: Use folders and labels to classify e-mails. This helps you find information quickly and keeps your inbox tidy.
- Configure filters: Take advantage of the filter function to automatically direct certain emails to specific folders. This is useful to separate important emails from those that are not urgent.
- Use autoresponder: If you are going to be out of the office or without access to mail, set up an autoresponder message to inform senders of your absence.
- Regularly check spam: Be sure to check the spam folder from time to time to verify that you have not missed any important mail.
- Keep security information up to date: Ensure that account recovery information is up to date and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security.
- Explore integrations: Leverage integrations with other Microsoft 365 applications to improve productivity, such as using OneDrive to easily share large files.