Hotmail Exchange ActiveSync for push mail due next Monday

Microsoft is planning to enable Hotmail push email support for a wide range of phones including the iPhone, Windows Phone devices and Android next Monday.

Microsoft is introducing the support using Exchange ActiveSync, available on nearly 300 million phones. With push email you can sychronize email between your phone and the web, and also synchronize calendar and contacts. Microsoft originally revealed its plans back in April this year. The service will only work on mobile phones and not on desktop email clients.

Microsoft revealed the launch date for the service to CNET News.com in an interview earlier this week. Microsoft's Dharmesh Mehta told CNET that Exchange ActiveSync, which will let Hotmail users get push e-mail on cell phones and other devices, will become available on Monday August 30.

Microsoft has traditionally used a closed door approach for access to Hotmail compared to offerings from its rivals. Google offers Exchange ActiveSync support with its Gmail service and Microsoft is aiming to ensure Hotmail offers everything gmail does and more. The new Hotmail also includes a single contact list of all online contacts including those from services like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. Microsoft has also introduced Active Views to integrate the content and functionality of other websites directly into emails that users receive. If a contact sends you an email with a link to a YouTube video or a Flickr photo album, you will be able to view the video or photo slide show within the email itself.

Microsoft has been slowly introducing support for ActiveSync over the past month. In a message to some users attempting to access the service, the software giant explained they have had capacity issues. "To get Hotmail on-the-go, you recently tried to set up a service called ActiveSync from your mobile device. We are really glad that you're interested, but we had so many sign-ups that we had to temporarily stop accepting new ones."

Once the service is enabled on Monday you can select the Exchange option from your mobile and point the server address to m.hotmail.com