Meaning of Hotmail

What is Hotmail?

Hotmail is a type of free email that was once widely popular, and is a web mail service provided by Microsoft in the United States.

In addition to being relatively early on the scene, Hotmail was free for anyone to sign up and use. It was also used by many people because it was easy to register for an account and the free version provided ample mailbox space. In addition, by switching to the paid advanced version, it was possible to increase the capacity of incoming emails, hide advertisements, scan for viruses, register multiple accounts, etc.

Hotmail was originally a service operated by Hotmail, but it was acquired by Microsoft in 1997 and integrated into its service called MSN. In 2007, it was renamed Windows Live Hotmail. In February 2013, Microsoft began offering Outlook.com as a successor service, and as all Hotmail users migrated to Outlook.com, the name and service as Hotmail ended.

Outlook.com, the successor to Hotmail

As explained in the above item “What is Hotmail?”, “Hotmail”, a pioneering web mail service, was launched in the United States in July 1996, and was released on Windows Live in 2007, 11 years after its launch in the United States. It became Hotmail.

After that, Microsoft planned to eliminate the “Windows Live” brand, which had always been unpopular with users as being difficult to understand, so Windows Live Hotmail was also discontinued, and “Outlook.com” was announced as its successor in February 2013. We started offering it as. This effectively means that Hotmail has ended its service.

I can’t go back to Hotmail

Since July 2012, when the Outlook.com preview was released, users have had the option to continue using Hotmail or migrate to Outlook.com. I was also able to switch back to Hotmail after trying Outlook.com.

After that, after February 2013 when Outlook.com became the official version, automatic migration from Hotmail to Outlook.com started and it was no longer possible to return to Hotmail.

What is Outlook.com?

Outlook.com is a web mail service provided by Microsoft that was officially launched in February 2013. As already explained, it is the successor to Hotmail. Because it resembles the interface of Outlook desktop software, it is easy to assume that it is the Outlook mailer installed in Windows, but the two are provided as different services.

What is the difference between Outlook.com and Outlook Mailer?

Outlook.com is a “free web mail service” provided by Microsoft. As long as you are connected to the Internet, you can send and receive from your computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. Access and check your email from anywhere online by logging into your Outlook.com admin in the cloud, managed by Microsoft.

On the other hand, Outlook mailer can be used by installing software on your computer. You can only send and receive emails on a computer on which you have installed the software and configured your email settings.

How to create Outlook.com

Below we will explain how to create Outlook.com.

1. Access the Outlook.com creation page (https://outlook.live.com/owa/)

2. Click “Create a free account”

3. You can create an email address, so enter your favorite alphanumeric characters, select a domain name from three options: “Outlook.jp”, “Outlook.com”, and “Hotmail.com” and click “Next”.

4. Create a password, so enter your preferred password and click “Next”

5. Enter your name and click “Next”

6. Select “Japan” as the region, enter your date of birth, and click “Next”

7. The identity verification screen will appear. Once you authenticate your identity, the creation of your email address will be completed.

8. After creation is complete, you will be automatically redirected to the Outlook.com screen.

How to access the Outlook.com management screen

There are two ways to access the Outlook.com management screen:

1. Access from the Outlook.com site
2. Access from smartphone app
3. Access from Microsoft Edge

Access from the Outlook.com site

To access from the Outlook.com site, open any browser and access from the URL below.

■Microsoft 365 (https://outlook.live.com/owa/)

By adding it to your favorites, you can save yourself the trouble of inputting it.

Access from smartphone app

If you want to access from a smartphone app, install the dedicated app.

■Google Play:


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.outlook&hl=ja&gl=US

■App Store:


https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/microsoft-outlook/id951937596

Access from Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, first access the start page (home screen), then click “Outlook” from the menu icon (the dice-like icon with nine dots) at the top left of the screen. This will take you to the Outlook management screen.

Differences between Hotmail, Outlook.com and Microsoft accounts

Below, we will explain the differences between Hotmail, Outlook.com, and Microsoft accounts.

1. Hotmail
2. Outlook.com
3. Microsoft account

Hotmail

Hotmail is a free web mail service formerly operated by Hotmail. In 2007, it merged with MSN and became Windows Live Hotmail. The predecessor of Outlook.com, Hotmail accounts were operated as Outlook.com accounts.

Outlook.com

Outlook.com is a free web mail service operated by Microsoft. It is operated as a de facto successor to Hotmail and takes over all Hotmail accounts. Domains that can be used with free web mail include “@outlook.com”, “@outlook.jp”, and “@hotmail.com”. In addition, the functionality has been enhanced compared to Hotmail, and items such as “Contacts”, “Appointments”, “Tasks”, and “Search” have been added.

Microsoft account

A Microsoft account is an account for using Microsoft-related products such as various Windows services and Office products, and for accessing the management screen, and is different from an account for using the free web mail service alone. Microsoft accounts are often confused because they are written as email addresses.

Additionally, if you have a Hotmail account before it was integrated with Outlook.com, you can manage your old Hotmail address by completing a process with Microsoft.

What to do if you can’t send email to Hotmail or Outlook.com

Due to the prevalence of spam emails, free email services are also focusing on security and anti-spam measures. Due to this background, there are rare cases where emails cannot be sent to Hotmail or Outlook.com. We will explain what to do in such cases.

1. Check the reply email

2. Unblock Outlook.com

1. Check the reply email

If the email cannot be sent, you will receive a reply error email with the title “Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender”. The content is written in English, but the meaning is generally one of the following.

1. Could not connect because target machine actively refused
2. server not found
3. Connection to server interrupted
4. The server unexpectedly terminated the connection
5. Could not connect to email server
6. Timed out waiting for response
7. A timeout occurred while communicating with the server

etc.

Possible specific factors

Among them, in the case of Hotmail and Outlook.com, a specific factor that can be considered is that they are registered on Outlook’s block list. If Hotmail and Outlook.com emails are not delivered to your spam folder, there is a high possibility that the email was blocked before being received.

If the error code in the reply email contains a number starting with 550, it means that the email was rejected due to Microsoft policy.

2. Remove Outlook.com blocklist

In most cases, if the email is rejected before it is received, the solution is to remove the Outlook.com block list. First, apply for cancellation of Outlook.com. There are two main ways to cancel:

1. Office 365 Anti-Spam IP List Removal Portal
2. New support request

Office 365 Anti-Spam IP List Removal Portal

You can apply for cancellation of the “Office 365 Anti-Spam IP List Deletion Portal” by entering your email address and IP address in the form. Please access and apply below.

■Office 365 anti-spam IP list deletion portal

https://sender.office.com/

New support request

“New Support Request” increases the probability of being canceled by providing more detailed information than “Office 365 Anti-Spam IP List Removal Portal”. You will receive a reply from Microsoft Support regarding whether or not this is possible. If your cancellation request is approved, the cancellation will generally take place within 24 to 48 hours.

Points to note when using free email

Not limited to Hotmail, free and highly functional free mail has the following characteristics.

1. Anyone can easily create an email address for free
2. As long as you have an internet environment, you can check your email from any device.

On the other hand, when using free mail, you need to be careful of the following points.

1. Security measures may not be perfect
2. Important emails are mistakenly sorted as spam
3. Advertisements are displayed when using email
4. No support available for using the service

Security measures may not be perfect

Free e-mail services provided by major services may have extensive security measures, but depending on the service, there is a risk that user information, passwords, etc. may be leaked.

Important emails are mistakenly sorted as spam

Depending on the spam email settings of your free email, there may be cases where important emails are classified as spam and cannot be received, or emails you send may be marked as spam and not be displayed to the recipient.

Advertisements are displayed when using email

Since it is free to use, operators often make profits from advertising revenue. If you are concerned about ads, use a paid plan.

No support is available for using the service.

Since the service is available for free, there is a risk that the support for users is not sufficient, and the service may suddenly end, but please note that free email operators are generally not responsible. .