Microsoft launched Outlook.com to challenge Gmail

Microsoft has announced Outlook.com, a new cloud-based email service that integrates Skype's video call and social networks. The most significant improvement in the service is a more comprehensive interface than Hotmail.

Outlook.com provides easier access to image slideshow features, Office, Skype integration and Facebook Chat support.

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With Outlook.com, users can open, edit and share Word, Excel and PowerPoint content, even interact with files directly from the inbox. Facebook and LinkedIn contacts will be fully synchronized automatically with contacts in Outlook.

According to Microsoft, Skype integration in Outlook.com is only in Preview instead of the official version, allowing calls to Skype and Outlook users. The application does not require Skype to be installed on the system, instead users can interact right in their browser.

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Content on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn will be dragged into the sidebar and like an inbox it also supports certain groups, directories and rules. In addition, users can use the ActiveSync feature to support using Outlook with mobile devices.

If you want to switch from Hotmail to Outlook.com, users can proceed to click the Upgrade button in the options menu with an email address, password, contact address, email and rules unchanged. Users can also send / receive emails from the address abc@hotmail.com or @ msn.com or @ live.com and the latest address is @ outlook.com.