Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest technology news and information.

Microsoft trumps Google on free e-mail storage limit

But it's still far short of Yahoo's offer of unlimited storage

By Jeremy Kirk

August 14, 2007 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Microsoft Corp. is increasing the storage limit for its Web-based e-mail service, surpassing competitor Google Inc.'s limit but falling far short of Yahoo Inc.'s unlimited storage.

The limit for a free Windows Live Hotmail account will increase from 2GB to 5GB. The change will be rolled out to users over the next few weeks along with a series of other upgrades, wrote Ellie Powers-Boyle, a Microsoft program manager, on a company blog.

Google offers around 2.8GB of storage space for a free account. Last week, Google began selling storage space that can be used for either its Gmail or Picasa photo-sharing services for $20 a year for another 6GB. It also offers more expensive plans.

Under the new changes, Microsoft will let users store 10GB of e-mail data for a $14.99 annual subscription. Those subscribers will also get a new feature: the ability to forward e-mail from their Hotmail account to a Gmail or other e-mail account.

But users of the free service will only be able to forward e-mail from one Hotmail account to another Hotmail account, essentially blocking them from a quick migration to another free e-mail service.

Another new Hotmail option is the ability to shut off the "Today" feature, which shows top news and features stories on Microsoft's MSN portal. It appears after a user logs into his Hotmail account.

Microsoft is also changing some of Hotmail's security features. One new feature is a link, "Report phishing" that alerts Microsoft to a possible scam Web site linked to an e-mail.

Powers-Boyle also wrote that Microsoft is trying to make Hotmail run faster. The company will also increase the amount of time that messages are stored in the junk and deleted items folders before being automatically flushed, although no specific time period was given.

Other improvements include better performance for Hebrew and Arabic writers, a feature that stops the duplication of contact information and the ability to set an automated response.

Comment Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Microsoft

Additional Resources

Xerox

Win a color printer!

By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!

Microsoft

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 today.

Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.

Sybase

NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY PLATFORMS

In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

What People Are Saying

0 comments | Add new

See all comments (0) | Add new

White Papers & Webcasts

Informatica 9 Launch: Transform your Business. Transform your world.

LIVE Nov 10, 2009 12:00 PM ET

Architecting Business Intelligence Applications for Change: The Open Solution

LIVE Nov 12, 2009 02:00 PM ET

Connecting to the Cloud with F5 and VMware VMotion
F5 and VMware partner to enable live application and storage migrations between datacenters and clouds, over short or long distances.

Data Protection is not an insurance policy -you cannot buy-back lost data
Find out why you need to maintain access to critical information to run your business and remain competitive.

SiliconFS - The BlueArc Filesystem
Learn the power of the BlueArc family of products to enterprise storage management features, providing real value for its customers.

Strategic ECM Webinar
Learn what new strategic business benefits can be realized through ECM!

Enabling Enterprise Class Features for the Mid-Range
Learn how BlueArc's new storage platform, BlueArc Mercury™, scales in fixed increments that make it easy to install and deploy, scales up to...

Rethinking Business Continuity and High Availability in Storage - HP and Forrester Pre-Recorded Webcast
Download it.

Tabor Research: NFS Evolution Changes the Landscape of HPC Data Management
A hybrid file system combining the benefits of standard NFS and the performance and scale of parallel file systems.

5 Architecture Issues that Impact BES performance
Register to attend this LIVE Webinar to learn 5 Architecture Issues that Impact BES performance!

Intelligent Tiered Storage: BlueArc's Implementation
This ESG White Paper discusses the importance of tiered storage, examines BlueArc's approach to intelligent tiering, and shows how it creates operational value...

Four Principles for Reducing Storage TCO
View cost reduction strategies in this video! Provided by Hitachi Data Systems.

All White Papers | All Webcasts