Microsoft Goes Back to 'Hotmail'

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Looks like Microsoft has decided to stick with the 'Hotmail' name for its popular webmail service:

"Just on the heels of another great release for the beta (M9), I’d like to share some interesting news to our loyal users. When we launch the mail service worldwide, it will be named Windows Live Hotmail. That’s right! And for starters, some of you will begin to see the Windows Live Hotmail brand show up in the beta – first in our Microsoft internal version (dogfood) and eventually in the public version in the coming weeks.

As we prepare to launch the final version of our new web mail service, we recognize the importance of ensuring that our 260+ million existing customers come over to the new service smoothly and without confusion. By adopting the name “Windows Live Hotmail”, we believe we’re bringing together the best of both worlds – new and old. We’re able to offer the great new technology that Windows Live has to offer while also bringing the emotional connection many existing and loyal users have with Hotmail."

View: Windows Live Blog

#1 C++ on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:29

Windows Live Hotmail? Why not just call it Hotmail Live...

#2 Slimy on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:29

Very good idea!

(1 reply) #3 LunarFalcon on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:30

meh. Hotmail sounds kind of antiquated to me, I kind of preferred just "windows live mail"

#3.1 freeeekyyy on 11 Feb 2007 - 22:12

Quote - (LunarFalcon said @ #3)

That's because you're a marketing sheep.

(3 replies) #4 Sinzen on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:33

...at the end of the day, it's still Hotmail.

You can paint it up, dress it up and give it all the bells and whistles...it's still the email that it was last week and before that.

#4.1 +Octol on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:40

Well said!

#4.2 +vlsi0n on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:58

Except it's only gotten better since they started; it sounds like your saying it's playing dress-up.

#4.3 waxman830 on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:51

You can put lipstick on a pig.......

(5 replies) #5 Ambroos on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:34

Nooo... Windows Live Hotmail is too long...

Why don't they just change Windows Live Messenger to Windows Live MSN Messenger then?

#5.1 Hidr0 on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:36

shh.. dont give them ideas....

#5.2 Sniper101 on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:47

Windows Live MSN Messenger doesn't quiet go does it? try saying it out loud you will feel stupid. And its a hell of a mouthful to say.

Anyway Windows Live Hotmail sounds good, plus it clears up all the name change confusion.

#5.3 +Smigit on 09 Feb 2007 - 01:18

Because Live and MSN are two distinct services now so you wouldnt see MSN and Live in the same name.

#5.4 nihilistphx on 09 Feb 2007 - 05:43

Quote - (Sniper101 said @ #5.2)

quiet

I seriously hate to be a "grammar Nazi" but this is one of the mistakes that irks me to no end... The word you used was like this "You need to stop speaking so loudly and be quiet" what you meant to say was... "quite." Sorry, quit/quite/quiet and they're/their/there irk me... sorry to disrupt the conversation but I cannot stand that... my problem, but eh...

#5.5 P1R4T3 on 09 Feb 2007 - 08:29

Quote - (nihilistphx said @ #5.4)

LOL

(3 replies) #6 Marshalus on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:46

Humm... I guess it's ok, but I still prefer calling it Live Mail.

Really, they should have just stuck with the MSN brand I think.

#6.1 advancedboy on 09 Feb 2007 - 00:31

Everyone still calls MSN Messenger "MSN" (As in: go on MSN tonight!

where I'm from, so Windows Live doesn't seem to be catching on.

#6.2 rm20010 on 09 Feb 2007 - 06:49

Quote - (advancedboy said @ #6.1)

Definitely. People sometimes give me weird looks for calling it "Messenger" or "WLM."

#6.3 vanacid on 09 Feb 2007 - 13:33

Hmm........ what ?? It is now Windows Live Messenger ?

Oh,... I am always the last to know these kind of things...

Well, I just stick with "Gaim", I still shows MSN in Configuration.

#7 +MchWalte on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:48

I can understand the reason. However, I'm now used to Windows Live Mail.

#8 jameseuk on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:49

why?,MS you are mad,the name is too much now,the name should have been left alone instead of two names fused together

#9 Hankyone on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:50

Good decision on Microsoft's end

(2 replies) #10 Matt500 on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:51

What on earth was the point in the stupid "windows live" branding anyway? They never needed to change the names, just improve the services and have their own road map. All Microsoft seem to do now days is jump in different directions all the time depending upon what the others are doing. They are the equivalent of the 9 or 10 year old child who copies their 15 year old siblings ways because they still don't know who they are. Stupid "Buzz words" like Windows "Live" only impress the marketing guys, for everyone else its quality of service that wins in the end but MS seems to have always been about what they can make from you with the so called Extras that incur the monthly subscription.

Hotmail was my original main email account but it made itself into my main spam account after attracting piles of spam each day. MSN Messenger is still on my system, Ive no need to upgrade to Windows live Messenger yet and everything else? well I get it from better services now days.

#10.1 waxman830 on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:53

Exactly, it's now my main spam account.

#10.2 vanacid on 09 Feb 2007 - 13:30

Hey, me too. !!! Let's party and get drunk to celebrate it !

For REAL, it is EVERYBODY'S spam account.

(1 reply) #11 pyehac on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:53

First Ford, now MS is going back to old names?

Why not make a good product and stick a new name to it?

#11.1 Zoom7000 on 09 Feb 2007 - 12:31

What have Ford gone bact to then?

#12 ViperSnake on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:55

Oh snap, and you thought Ford slapping the Taurus name on the 500 was weird...but still, hope the *@live.com emails still come

#13 thenay on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:55

Microsoft really has a bad way of branding these Live services.
Windows Live Hotmail? That sounds so, stupid.
I liked Windows Live Mail better, but I guess it makes it easier to understand the Windows Live Mail Desktop program

#14 digitalsoft on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:59

Windows Live Hotmail - i like it!

#15 lol911 on 08 Feb 2007 - 20:59

Windows Live bull****

#16 Julius Caro on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:06

Sounds bad, but in the end people will stick to calling it hotmail. Now let's get rid of the MSN brand once and for all

(2 replies) #17 PureLegend on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:10

Why don't MS design one unified Live service, instead of splitting it into Xbox, Zune and Office, and shoving everything else under Windows?

Surprise! I can access Windows Live under OS X! *gasp*

#17.1 Julius Caro on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:55

Xbox and Office are not windows branded. Media player and Internet explorer are.. a lot of things. but Office is office system and xbox 360 is xbox 360.
What makes it confusing to me is things like "live office" or things like that. Some serious cross-branding going on!

#17.2 +vlsi0n on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:01

X-Box and Zune are in the HED (Home Entertainment Department). They are a different division entirely....

#18 Jugalator on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:14

This is good, because the Hotmail brand had such a good reputation. :-p

(1 reply) #19 Alto on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:14

This has happened because Microsoft have probably gone to some noob families who don't have a clue about anything, know the Hotmail name and who have moaned about the new "Mail" name. Somehow, these people they've asked don't see the Windows Live concept. It hasn't been around long enough for people to accept and recognise it. I know a lot of people who still refer to Windows Live Messenger as plainly "MSN".

Enforce the name. Windows Live Messenger, and in this case Windows Live Mail, and people will get used to it. So what I'll say to Microsoft is don't start letting clueless families run your business.

#19.1 Glassed Silver on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:38

clueless families take a big role in Microsoft's marketshare...
so ms will make it as convient as possible for them.
someday ms might shift to Live Mail (from Live Hotmail) -> small steps strategy...
but oh well...

-fm

(1 reply) #20 azz0r_wugg on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:44

So what will Windows Live Mail desktop become?

#20.1 vanacid on 09 Feb 2007 - 13:29

There will be a patch for it in 6 months

(1 reply) #21 iCeFuSiOn on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:46

Hmm so what happens with the @live.com passports?

#21.1 furby on 09 Feb 2007 - 10:20

That's a good point, will they be keeping @live.com for e-mail addresses?

#22 So Scene on 08 Feb 2007 - 21:55

It makes sense "MSN"="Windows Live" in general.

(2 replies) #23 Croquant on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:01

Why not Windows Vista Home Premium Live Hotmail Messenger, Upgrade Edition? Is that too long?

#23.1 +vlsi0n on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:04

Vista Home Premium

Windows Live! Hotmail

Windows Live! Messenger

-none said are that long to me...

Last edited by vlsi0n on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:10

#23.2 +stifler6478 on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:20

I think the amount of time until you stop trolling posts about Microsoft is too long.

-Spenser

#24 jmc777 on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:12

Way to go Microsoft!!! :no:

#25 HDW-mobile on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:18

gmail then!

#26 magik on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:39

Microsoft loves long names.

Luvvy Duvvy Premium XP Plus Pack SP3 (t)

#27 waxman830 on 08 Feb 2007 - 22:56

Whatever they want to name it, it will still be my main spam account, it works very well for that.

#28 mrmckeb on 09 Feb 2007 - 01:51

God help us all... Why not just call it "Live Hotmail".

#29 madkingsoup on 09 Feb 2007 - 09:36

Because the brand is now "Windows Live", not just "Live".

(1 reply) #30 +Cy Bones on 09 Feb 2007 - 10:19

The full name makes it look like it belongs to a larger family now - but I think this will probably be known as just "Hotmail" to most users...

Remember when it was know as HoTMaiL?

#30.1 vanacid on 09 Feb 2007 - 13:27

Nope... you are too old too

(1 reply) #31 Zoom7000 on 09 Feb 2007 - 12:32

Remember when it wasn't run by Microsoft? Now that was ages ago!

#31.1 vanacid on 09 Feb 2007 - 13:27

Nope... you are too old

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