Electronic mail has become one of the fastest and most convenient communication methods in our world today. MSN Hotmail has been a popular e-mail service for nearly 15 years and has millions of users around the world. However, like most products, there are advantages and disadvantages to the program.

Hotmail was launched in 1996 and has become one of the world's largest e-mail services. The idea was designed by web entreprenuers Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia and was one of the first programs that offered electronic mail via the Internet. It was purchased by Microsoft in 1997 and remains a product of the MSN family. By 2005, there were more than 200 million Hotmail users worldwide, with pages published in 17 different languages.

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Advantages

Like most e-mail services, the biggest advantage of using Hotmail is having instant communication access with friends, family and businesses across the globe. Hotmail provides free accounts to its users and has excellent spam filtering software. You have your own address book where you can add detailed information for your contacts and lots of storage space. The interface is easy to navigate and understand and creating your own folders provides optimum information management. Hotmail also boasts a feature that will connect your account to your Microsoft Outlook e-mail so you can even check your messages when you are offline. You can also import your contacts to your MSN Instant Messenger list for online chatting.

  • Like most e-mail services, the biggest advantage of using Hotmail is having instant communication access with friends, family and businesses across the globe.
  • Hotmail also boasts a feature that will connect your account to your Microsoft Outlook e-mail so you can even check your messages when you are offline.
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Disadvantages

The disadvantages of using Hotmail are few and it is a highly-rated e-mail service. While you are able to block users from contacting you, you initially have no control over who adds you to their contact lists. In the past, consumers have noted that Hotmail accounts are not thoroughly protected by security and report other users hacking into their accounts. However, Hotmail strives to continually improve its services and remedy security situations that arise.

  • The disadvantages of using Hotmail are few and it is a highly-rated e-mail service.
  • In the past, consumers have noted that Hotmail accounts are not thoroughly protected by security and report other users hacking into their accounts.
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The Bottom Line

The bottom line in using Hotmail comes down to personal preference. There are various e-mail providers across the web and each person has a favourite. Before signing up for your account, take the time to research providers and decide which one suits you best.