Outlook.com

Outlook.com is a web-based suite of webmail, contacts, tasks, and calendaring services from Microsoft. One of the world's first webmail services, it was founded in 1996 as Hotmail by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith in Mountain View, California. Microsoft acquired Hotmail in 1997 for an estimated $400 million and relaunched it as MSN Hotmail, later rebranding it to Windows Live Hotmail as part of the Windows Live suite of products.

History

Outlook.com was officially launched in its current form in July 2012, replacing Windows Live Hotmail. The service was designed to provide a more modern user experience and integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive, Office Online, and Skype.

Features

Outlook.com offers a variety of features, including:

• Email: Users can send and receive emails, organize messages into folders, and use advanced search capabilities.
• Calendar: The integrated calendar allows users to schedule events, set reminders, and share calendars with others.
• Contacts: Users can manage their contacts, import contacts from other services, and link contacts to social media profiles.
• Tasks: The task management feature helps users keep track of their to-do lists and deadlines.
• Integration: Outlook.com integrates with other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive for file storage, Office Online for document editing, and Skype for video calls.

User Interface

The user interface of Outlook.com is designed to be clean and intuitive, with a focus on usability. It features a three-pane layout, with the folder list on the left, the message list in the center, and the reading pane on the right. The interface is also customizable, allowing users to change themes and layout settings.

Security

Outlook.com includes several security features to protect users' information, such as:

• Two-factor authentication: Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification.
• Encryption: Emails are encrypted to protect the content from unauthorized access.
• Spam filtering: Advanced algorithms help filter out spam and phishing emails.

Mobile Access

Outlook.com is accessible on mobile devices through the Outlook app, available for iOS and Android devices. The app provides access to email, calendar, contacts, and tasks, and supports push notifications for new messages.

Comparison with Other Services

Outlook.com competes with other webmail services such as Gmail from Google and Yahoo! Mail from Yahoo!. Each service offers unique features and integrations, catering to different user preferences and needs.

See Also

• Microsoft 365
• Outlook on the web
• Microsoft Exchange Server
• Email client
• Webmail