Hotmail fees for Outlook access - GoFuckYourself.com

DVTimes · 09-28-2004, 08:38 AM

Hotmail fees for Outlook access

Millions of Hotmail users face having to pay to access their messages using the Outlook e-mail program.
Microsoft says it decided to start charging for the service as it was being abused by senders of spam.

In the past, people could download e-mail from Hotmail into Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for free.

But now only people who had paid an annual subscription fee will be able to access their messages without opening a browser window.

Countering spam

Hotmail is one of the most popular web-based e-mail services, with 187 million active accounts.

In the past, it had allowed people to download their messages using a technology known as WebDAV (Web distributed authoring and versioning).

Microsoft's MSN said it had decided make the changes because spammers were exploiting the system.

"Recently MSN has seen an increase in spammers exploiting WebDAV to send unwanted messages to Hotmail customers as well as the overall e-mail community," said the spokesperson.

"Due to the magnitude of this problem, MSN has made the tough decision to make this protocol (and therefore Outlook/Outlook Express functionality for Hotmail) a subscription-only feature.

"This change will begin 27 September for new users and become effective for all users worldwide in 2005 after extensive communications to our existing users."

MSN hopes that a subscription-based service will deter spammers, and help track down those who sent junk as the company would have a record of credit cards and other information on account holders.

Annual fees

It has already taken other steps to prevent spammers using Hotmail.

It has limited the number of outgoing messages on free accounts to 100 per day and introduced extra validation requirements when opening a new account.

Users who want to use Outlook to pick up their Hotmail messages will have to pay $19.95 (£11) for an annual subscription to Hotmail Plus or the $99.95 (£55) a year for MSN Premium.

But subscribers who are already using the technology to download their messages will be able to carry on using the service for free until April.

Other e-mail services such as Yahoo and America Online also limit access to mail exporting tools to paid subscribers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3697286.stm

Giorgio_Xo · 09-28-2004, 08:38 AM

I pay for an expanded Hotmail account anyways.

mardigras · 09-28-2004, 08:40 AM

So I've got to pay 20 bucks a year if I still want to download all the spam I get in their e-mail account? Nyet!

Wiggles · 09-28-2004, 08:40 AM

I did not even know you could do that.

Quickdraw · 09-28-2004, 08:40 AM

In short,
Outlook users cannot see our ads....

Dagwolf · 09-28-2004, 08:42 AM

NOW what will I do to get my spam?

mardigras · 09-28-2004, 08:46 AM

Their bulk-mail filter is a joke. I had to finally set my Hotmail account to Exclusive to keep from being blocked out with a full box every couple days. I don't always check my main e-mail account every couple of days

I'll be darned if I'm going to be a slave to theirs, with their spam slipped in.

I do just fine with my ISP and domain e-mail & OE. I've got the important things filtered into their own folders and all the other crap in the world floods into that usless folder called Inbox and I can dump it when I want to.

09-28-2004, 08:38 AM	#1
DVTimes xxx Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 31,547	Hotmail fees for Outlook access Hotmail fees for Outlook access Millions of Hotmail users face having to pay to access their messages using the Outlook e-mail program. Microsoft says it decided to start charging for the service as it was being abused by senders of spam. In the past, people could download e-mail from Hotmail into Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for free. But now only people who had paid an annual subscription fee will be able to access their messages without opening a browser window. Countering spam Hotmail is one of the most popular web-based e-mail services, with 187 million active accounts. In the past, it had allowed people to download their messages using a technology known as WebDAV (Web distributed authoring and versioning). Microsoft's MSN said it had decided make the changes because spammers were exploiting the system. "Recently MSN has seen an increase in spammers exploiting WebDAV to send unwanted messages to Hotmail customers as well as the overall e-mail community," said the spokesperson. "Due to the magnitude of this problem, MSN has made the tough decision to make this protocol (and therefore Outlook/Outlook Express functionality for Hotmail) a subscription-only feature. "This change will begin 27 September for new users and become effective for all users worldwide in 2005 after extensive communications to our existing users." MSN hopes that a subscription-based service will deter spammers, and help track down those who sent junk as the company would have a record of credit cards and other information on account holders. Annual fees It has already taken other steps to prevent spammers using Hotmail. It has limited the number of outgoing messages on free accounts to 100 per day and introduced extra validation requirements when opening a new account. Users who want to use Outlook to pick up their Hotmail messages will have to pay $19.95 (£11) for an annual subscription to Hotmail Plus or the $99.95 (£55) a year for MSN Premium. But subscribers who are already using the technology to download their messages will be able to carry on using the service for free until April. Other e-mail services such as Yahoo and America Online also limit access to mail exporting tools to paid subscribers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3697286.stm __________________ The Affiliate Program

09-28-2004, 08:38 AM	#2
Giorgio_Xo Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4,263	I pay for an expanded Hotmail account anyways. __________________ Make Levees, Not War

09-28-2004, 08:40 AM	#3
mardigras Bon temps! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: down yonder Posts: 14,194	So I've got to pay 20 bucks a year if I still want to download all the spam I get in their e-mail account? Nyet! __________________ .

09-28-2004, 08:40 AM	#4
Wiggles Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 14,423	I did not even know you could do that. __________________ no sig

09-28-2004, 08:42 AM	#6
Dagwolf President of Canada Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leaving Hell, Entering Limbo Posts: 23,141	NOW what will I do to get my spam? __________________ Sleep well, and dream of large women.

09-28-2004, 08:40 AM	#5
Quickdraw Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: → → → Posts: 1,717	In short, Outlook users cannot see our ads....

09-28-2004, 08:46 AM	#7
mardigras Bon temps! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: down yonder Posts: 14,194	Their bulk-mail filter is a joke. I had to finally set my Hotmail account to Exclusive to keep from being blocked out with a full box every couple days. I don't always check my main e-mail account every couple of days I'll be darned if I'm going to be a slave to theirs, with their spam slipped in. I do just fine with my ISP and domain e-mail & OE. I've got the important things filtered into their own folders and all the other crap in the world floods into that usless folder called Inbox and I can dump it when I want to. __________________ .