Google revamps Gmail inbox to filter graymail, following in footsteps of Outlook.com

gmail

Are we witnessing a new feature war in the world of webmail? Google this morning unveiled an overhauled version of the Gmail inbox, with tabs at the top to filter out messages from social networks, daily deals and promotions. This is know the industry as “graymail” because it isn’t quite spam but also isn’t as… Read More…

Microsoft builds Google Chat into Outlook.com webmail in new bid for switchers

outlook

Microsoft is integrating Google Chat into Outlook.com, attempting to eliminate one of the factors that prevents Gmail users from switching to Microsoft’s revamped webmail service. Outlook.com users who connect their Google accounts will be able to chat with Gmail users — or “friends stuck on Gmail,” as Microsoft cheekily puts it — from inside Microsoft’s online… Read More…

Microsoft starts to integrate Skype with Outlook.com

skype

Microsoft is starting to integrate Skype into Outlook.com, aiming to make its webmail service more of a universal communications hub. The company this morning announced a preview of Skype video calling and messaging for Outlook.com, rolling out first to “a select set of people” in the UK, with plans to take it to the U.S…. Read More…

Microsoft: Overheating datacenter caused Outlook.com outage

outlook

A firmware upgrade failure at one of Microsoft’s datacenters caused the facility to overheat and shut down access to Outlook.com and Hotmail for some users earlier this week, Microsoft said in a blog post this morning explaining the cause of the problem. The outage, which started on Tuesday afternoon and lasted until early Wednesday morning,… Read More…

Outlook.com arrives: Microsoft gets aggressive in new bid to dethrone Gmail

An Outlook.com user fires up his personal hovercraft in a new television ad, part of an effort to revive Microsoft's fortunes in consumer email.

Microsoft is officially launching Outlook.com on Tuesday — taking its new consumer email service out of preview mode and starting to shift longtime Hotmail users to the updated Outlook.com interface. It’s part of a plan, announced last year, to retire Hotmail, Microsoft’s classic webmail service. Nope, the upgrade isn’t optional, but don’t worry, old-timer, you… Read More…