Microsoft, Apple work to fix iPad Hotmail glitch

Computerworld - MIcrosoft today said it is working with Apple to solve problems that iPad users have had with Windows Live Hotmail.

"We've seen some issues with using Hotmail on the new Apple iPad," acknowledged Mike Schackwitz, the Hotmail program manager, in an entry on the "Inside Windows Live" blog Monday. "Specifically, composing and replying to an e-mail is not working for some of our users.

iPad users have reported problems with Microsoft's Web-based e-mail service, including the iPad's Safari browser freezing and an inability to compose new messages or reply to received mail.

"I can read mail but I can't compose a new message or reply to a message," said someone identified as "mitchgrrt" on Apple's support forum on April 6, just three days after the tablet went on sale. "iPad won't let me type in the message input area, and Safari hangs."

"We're working with Apple to understand the issues, and we'll fix them as quickly as possible," said Schackwitz. He did not provide a timetable for a Hotmail fix.

On Apple's support forum, most iPad users said that they were able to grab their Hotmail messages after setting up the tablet's baked-in Mail client to access Microsoft's service as a POP account. Others urged iPad users who were experiencing problems to switch to the mobile Hotmail site, which uses a stripped-down interface more suitable for the smaller screens on smartphones. Microsoft has since redirected all iPad traffic to the mobile version.

Microsoft is expected to unveil a new version of Windows Live Hotmail on Tuesday. Last week, Australian blogger Long Zheng said invitations had gone out for the unveiling of what Microsoft's codenamed the "Wave 4" versions of Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger, the company's instant messaging client.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@ix.netcom.com.

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