Microsoft adds new features to e-mail

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. Even as many IT companies are beginning to implement plans to charge for e-mail boxes, Microsoft has decided to provide more features to its free e-mail Hotmail in an attempt to overtake the market leader in the U.S. - AOL (America On- Line). So far, Yahoo has converted its e-mail into a paid service while usa.net, another e-mail service with a big Indian customer base, has announced plans to go paid by the end of this month.

Microsoft today announced new features and functionality for the users of MSN Hotmail. Over 11-crore users of MSN Hotmail worldwide will be able to use a fresher user interface which makes managing e-mail easier, and benefit from improved mail filtering tools that give consumers more power to control unsolicited junk e-mail, or spam.

``MSN is applying knowledge we have gained as the provider of the world's largest e-mail service to offer consumers a better way to handle their e-mail and protect themselves from junk e-mail,'' Mr. Shriram Adukoorie, Head MSN-Business Group said. ``These great improvements will help ensure that users worldwide have a superior experience with MSN Hotmail.''

As part of MSN's continuing effort to help protect consumers from spam, the Junk Mail Filter will offer consumers an easier way to avoid unwanted e-mail with more options that allow them to select the level of protection they desire. Once enabled, the filter automatically sends all bulk e-mail to a special folder while providing consumers with an individual override control.

Consumers can choose a low, high or exclusive level of filtering based on their individual needs. The low and high-level filters use the latest techniques to identify and eliminate spam, while consumers who choose the exclusive level will only receive e-mail from people listed in their address book, providing the most comprehensive e-mail security and protection.

Responding to feedback from customers from MSN Hotmail, the new version will provide a style-consistent MSN Explorer, a friendly and intuitive user and interface and one- click access to key tools such as the Junk Mail Filter, e-mail folders, InBox management options, and integrated services like MSN Calender and MSN Messenger.

New icons and the ability to create a quick list of favourite address book contacts allow faster and easier creation of e-mail messages.

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Section  : National
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