Windows Live Hotmail Unveiling Next Month

Expect Windows Live, the predecessor of Hotmail, to arrive sometime next month in the US. Other markets such as India and Belgium will be seeing its arrival as soon as next week. Microsoft has been tight-lipped about any specific details of its new email service, but one thing made apparent is that it will offer several enhancements over the current UI and it’s back-end development utilizing AJAX. The UI is very similar to that of Outlook, Microsoft's other email offering. The Dutch have already gotten a taste of it’s capabilities including the option to switch to a “@live.nl” address. Live.com addresses have been offered everywhere since June, although without the new accompanying interface.

Window’s new email provider is leaps and bounds beyond Hotmail as far as rendering CSS goes… but that’s not really saying much, now is it? Windows Live does not support margin, yet padding renders fine. Backgrounds instances? Kiss ‘em goodbye. One cool feature they’re implementing is image caching. Once you open an email, the images are stored in a local-app. directory. This will produce more accurate open rates for email marketers across the board.