Internet Explorer defaults to msn.com (which has a Hotmail tab).
Outlook Express defaults to setting up a new Hotmail account.
Messenger defaults to setting up a new Hotmail account.
Microsoft is directing a lot of traffic towards Hotmail sign-ups.
Plus, virtually everyone gets an e-mail from someone with a Hotmail account. (Gee, must be a good service, it's so popular
).
Then, there are the people that sign up, forget their passwords, and sign up for another account.
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Me, I signed up so that I would know what Hotmail featured. That way, when I tell people about other free e-mail providers I would have some basis for comparison.
I am currently letting my Hotmail account go dormant. I plan on reviving it in 2002, IF I am able (re: Hotmail cancelling accounts that haven't been used for 30 days). I like to experiment with services, I am curious if some of the 600+ spams per month that I get will go away if they start getting bounces.
Since Hotmail does not offer POP, and I use Eudora, my Hotmail address was not one I used in correspondence. But friends on Messenger would send mail to that address. I am using a non-Hotmail address for my current MSN Passport.
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Do you think that Microsoft is using Hotmail to influence more people to use Outlook Express instead of other e-mail clients, since Outlook & Outlook Express are the only e-mail clients (that I know of) that support HTTP mail servers? Plus, they automatically have MSN (.NET) Passports, which makes the .NET concept LOOK popular.