In case you missed it - Hotmail officially going way

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/tech/web/microsoft-outlook-hotmail

(CNN) -- When Microsoft introduced a preview version of a fresh and inventive webmail service it called Outlook.com last August, it was pretty clear that it was telling the world that it intended to start winding down its venerable Hotmail sooner or later.

Now it's official.

The company is announcing that Outlook.com is coming out of preview mode and is now officially available worldwide. And so it's going to start moving more than 300 million Hotmail users over. They'll be able to keep their Hotmail.com e-mail addresses — or Live.com or MSN.com, if that's what they've got — but the Hotmail service and brand will be going away.

The transition will be gradual: At first, the Hotmail faithful will get e-mails and other alerts telling them about the switchover. They'll be able to make the jump immediately, or postpone it. But by the end of the summer, the company intends to have moved all Hotmail users over to Outlook.com.

[AsahinaKimi]

1. I have had my hotmail.com account for years..

I also love using my msn.com messenger. I hope this doesn't go away because I will lose a lot of on line friends. I do have other
on line email services, but hotmail was my first.

[monmouth3]

3. Me too! When I first started to actually use a computer Hotmail was my first e-mail account...Sad..

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. me three. Guess you just get so familiar with it. Now every other service just looks

to unfamiliar and hard to read.

[LisaL]

6. They will just transfer all your e-mails to outlook.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. so, what your saying is..

instead of typing www.hotmail.com, it will be www.outlook.com. The hard part than will be trying to find my account on some new website?

[LisaL]

9. Yes.

All the e-mails will still be there.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. guessing that

I will have to make a new password. I hope they send me a link to my new account.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Don't you have a link on your current hotmail to change to outlook?

Mine says:

Upgrade coming soon. An upgrade from Hotmail to a new webmail experience is coming soon. Start enjoying it today. Upgrade now


I actually hit it by mistake a couple months ago and changed to outlook. Didn't like the look of it. So it was easy to switch back to hotmail. But soon (end of summer) no more switching back

[Posteritatis]

17. Your actual email address and the like shouldn't change. (nt)

[UnrepentantLiberal]

18. Uh oh

Hope you like Skype.

MSN Messenger To Retire In March; Update To Skype

Jan 10, 2013

Earlier this week, Microsoft sent out mails to millions of its users, announcing that the messenger service will be retired on March 15th 2013. The software giant will be replacing messenger with Skype, a messaging and VOIP service that it purchased for $8.5 billion in 2011.

It was common knowledge that Microsoft Messenger was to be axed sometime this year, though the company was to give an exact date. Now, all users and their buddy lists will be migrated to the VOIP platform on the given date. The changes will take place throughout the world, with the exception of China.

The following email with the subject : "Important info about your Messenger account", was mass mailed to all messenger users. Below is the most important part of the mail :

"On 15th March 2013 we are retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together. Update to Skype and sign in using a Microsoft Account (same as your Messenger ID) and all your Messenger contacts will be at your fingertips. You'll be able to instant message and video chat with them just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet ."

More: http://www.rttnews.com/2035259/msn-messenger-to-retire-in-march-update-to-skype.aspx

[AsahinaKimi]

19. Oh that just sucks.

I suppose with SKYPE you have to USE a freaking webcam? Screw that business.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

20. I just opened up my Skype mobile.

You can voice call, video call or instant message. But I don't think you can stop someone from placing a video call to you. (Other than not answering and then IMing them.)

I'm sure you'll be able to keep all your MSN IM friends though.

[hlthe2b]

2. Ya know... I am still amazed that AOL remains...

I've had a couple of AOL accounts since, well forever... I keep expecting to be told they are closing down, but somehow I guess they keep going...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. it is amazing isn't it. Long ago tried to use AOL and it never would work

right - of course that was a the beginning of the internet wave.

[Posteritatis]

16. I've had an AIM account since about a month after its launch

I gotta respect that kind of staying power.

[In_The_Wind]

8. That explains why my last two attempts to open a new account failed.

[Buzz Clik]

10. sniff. My first email account.

Of course, I abandoned it about 15 years ago. But still....

[TheBlackAdder]

12. Live.com was replacing Hotmail too (Outlook once had an Easily Hacked stigma to it)...

Whenever I hear of Outlook, my first thoughts are:

An easily hacked email system (derived from prior hacking art). Do I want my email in that thing?

[olddots]

13. Is nothing sacred anymore ?

I have and have never used it but going start now .Help the underdog !!!!!!!!!!!

[NaturalHigh]

15. End of an era.