Images: Changing face of Web mail

CXO

Images: Changing face of Web mail

By Bill Detwiler April 25, 2006, 8:55 PM PDT billdetwiler

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Microsoft

Microsoft acquired Hotmail in December 1997, and got 8 million users. Here is a screenshot of Hotmail as it looked then.

Microsoft

Microsoft showed off an early test version of Kahuna at a financial analysts’ meeting in July 2005.

Yahoo launched a limited U.S. beta of its improved Yahoo Mail service in September 2005. The version included features like a built-in RSS reader and the ability to tab through multiple open e-mails. It also adds many other features appearing in Windows Live Mail, such as a reading pane and drag-and-drop organization.

A look at the current version of Hotmail. Microsoft announced Windows Live in November 2005, including plans to rename Hotmail as Windows Live Mail.

Here is a screenshot–the April 2006 test version–of Windows Live Mail’s new look with Outlook-style reading pane and other features. Microsoft demos improved Hotmail (code-named Kahuna) at a financial analysts’ conference and started publicly testing its screens.

To address criticisms over the new Windows Live Mail, Microsoft has included in its most recent test version a “classic view” that uses new technology but looks and acts like the old Hotmail.

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.

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