Windows Live Hotmail to Provide SSL and ActiveSync Support

[Eriq Cook]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/04/activesync-ssl-coming-to-hotmail.ars' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...-to-hotmail.ars</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"More information is being revealed about the next iteration of Microsoft's Live-branded products. We know when the new programs are going to start rolling out, we know that Windows XP won't be supported, and we know a lot about the features of the next Windows Live Messenger...</em><em>Now Windows Live Hotmail is in the spotlight. The web front-end gets a load of new bells and whistles, but two new features stand out in particular.</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1273122662.usr72.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Windows Live Hotmail is undergoing some major upgrades with two notable features including full SLL support and ActiveSync. What does this mean? As for SSL, email sessions will now be fully secure through the entire session (not only for login but for sending/receiving) and enabled by default.</p><p>ActiveSync support will give users a full sync experience by providing push support and syncing of mail, calendar and contact folders with smartphones. This goes beyond IMAP's limited support for only mail sync support.</p><p>The new updates are scheduled for rollout in June, along with a host of other Live product updates. This is great news for Hotmail users and a little overdue in my opinion. Do you currently use Hotmail and looking forward to the updates? Let us know your thoughts.</p>

[efjay]

Looking forward to getting my calendar synced but its a double edged sword - that means no exchange sync with any other exchange account when using a WM device.

[Jason Dunn]

Looking forward to getting my calendar synced but its a double edged sword - that means no exchange sync with any other exchange account when using a WM device.

As long as you're using Windows Mobile 6.x, yes. Windows phone 7 on the other hand, when it comes out... :)

[Fritzly]

As long as you're using Windows Mobile 6.x, yes. Windows phone 7 on the other hand, when it comes out... :)

Does not WP7 support Exchange sync as WM6.XXX?

[efjay]

As long as you're using Windows Mobile 6.x, yes. Windows phone 7 on the other hand, when it comes out... :)

Yes, then I wont have removable storage and hostage to whatever storage is provided by OEM's, locked into MP - as always WM gets the shaft.

[Jason Dunn]

Does not WP7 support Exchange sync as WM6.XXX?

Windows phone 7 will support multiple Exchange accounts (http://www.windowsobserver.com/2010/03/15/multiple-exchange-based-accounts-on-windows-phone-7-series-confirmed/), which should mean you could have your corporate Exchange account, and also do Exchange ActiveSync against a cloud-based service such as Windows Live. That's what I was referring to.

[Fritzly]

Oh I see. Thanks I was reading in a hurry and I missed the sense.

[Jason Dunn]

Oh I see. Thanks I was reading in a hurry and I missed the sense.

No worries, it was my fault for being vague - I wasn't sure if that was public yet, but it turns out it is, so I can now talk about it. :)

[Fabulas]

This will allow me to receive instant hotmail access on my Android phone. BTW I also have a couple of windows mobile devices.

[Jason Lee]

I do find it kind of funny that Microsoft is just now getting around to adding this service.

How many years have their own phones supported exchange email sync? How many years could their non-corporate customers been enjoying push email, contacts, and calendar sync? How many more phones could they have sold?

I mean, don't get me wrong. This is great news for any one who still uses Hotmail. About damn time. ;)

As for me.. I get my Hotmail on my android phone by having gmail pop it over. :) (i do have it setup as IMAP just in case but on manual sync)
I haven't really used Hotmail in years. It fell way to far behind the alternatives.
I will say though, in the last few months the live services have really begun to shape up. Makes my kind of sad that I moved on a long time ago. I still play with them but don't really them any longer.

[fone_fanatic]

as jason lee said, microsoft should have done this LONG time ago. I barely use my hotmail accounts, most of them are now just filled with junk mail.

Google Sync is a pain, sends emails with attachments whenever it likes. I'm currently paying $4.95 a month for exchange from mail2web.com so can't wait for this to come out. anybody know of another alternative till this rolls out?

[doogald]

Google Sync is a pain, sends emails with attachments whenever it likes. I'm currently paying $4.95 a month for exchange from mail2web.com so can't wait for this to come out. anybody know of another alternative till this rolls out?

If you want to do Exchange Sync with gmail and do not mind paying a little for it, NuevaSync is a great solution. $25 a year for mail sync and unlimited calendar syncing (the free version syncs up to 11 Google Calendars, if you don't want mail.)

[Philip Colmer]

I'm looking forward to it as it would seem to meet my requirements of providing push email at no additional charge. That said, I'd want it to work with Outlook, ideally, rather than the current Hotmail add-on that is required. I've just started trying out Hotmail in advance of the ActiveSync functionality being added and I'm not 100% impressed with the Outlook add-in. It requires you to enter a Captcha string every time you send an email, I'm having trouble getting Outlook to copy my contacts over to Hotmail and don't even get me started on the calendar!

Google Mail already offers ActiveSync but that definitely doesn't work from Outlook. A bit of a shame because at the moment it looks as if it is easier to set Google Mail up to use non-Google email addresses. Hotmail looks to be pretty darn tricky to set up like that.

Oh, and on the subject of multiple ActiveSync/Exchange accounts, I thought that Microsoft were releasing an updated email client for WM6.x in order to match the ability of Outlook 2010 to sync with multiple accounts?

--Philip

[peterawest]

So, since my domain is hosted by Microsoft and my company e-mail is really just Windows Live Hotmail, can I assume that this will be offered for me too?