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Published: February 22, 2013
Updated: Oct 1, 2015: added Windows 10; outlook.com →EXG Online model Updated Jan 25, 2017: WLM EOL
Entities/Layers
Involved & Compatibility
Concerns:
- Hosting + Server
+ Email Client / Portal + OS
Platform
Protocols
Involved:
- SMTP, POP3, APOP, IMAP,
TLS, MIME, EAS
+ proprietary
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Evolution
of Microsoft Web-based eMail Services |
| startup
HoTMaiL
1996 |
→
1997 |
hotmail.com
aka mail.msn.com
by Microsoft |
→
2005 |
live.com
by Microsoft |
→
2013 |
outlook.com*
by Microsoft: 2013
added IMAP & OAuth;2015 EAS v16 →EXO |
Been
through 4 distinct
branding periods, same service/network. Old domains as
alias.
Chief
rivals include: Yahoo Mail, Gmail, web.de, AOL Mail
*Not to be confused with: - Outlook
(software), as part of Microsoft Office.
- Outlook Mobile (formerly Acompli, entirely different product line [2014 acquisition] by Microsoft) is a "mobile personal information manager" app for Android and iOS devices. Interoperates nicely with its desktop counterpart.
Also unrelated
to: OWA Outlook Web Access
[not even part of Outlook (software)]. Rather it's an Exchange Server front-end
implemented with IIS]
aka
Outlook
on the web, formerly
Exchange
Web Connect. It's how to do "webmail" with Exchange.
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Evolution
of Windows O.S. Bundled/Free
eMail Clients |
| Outlook Express 5 (no relation to MS
Outlook) |
bundled w/ XP IE5 |
| Outlook Express 6 |
bundled w/ XP IE6 |
| Windows Mail |
bundled w/ Vista, installable on W7 |
| Windows
Live Mail version 12 wave 2 |
free download for W7, discontinued |
| Windows Live Mail 2009 version 13wave 3 |
| Windows Live Mail 2011 version 14 wave 4 |
| Windows
Live Mail 2012
version 15 wave 5 |
free download for W7/8 as part of
Windows
Essentials 2012... now EOL |
| WLM v16.4.3508.0205 May 14,
2013 |
| Windows 8 Mail App (Metro) |
Unrelated to Vista/7 Windows Mail |
| Windows 10 Mail App (UWP) | bundled w/ Windows 10 (aka 6.4) |
Microsoft Outlook (paid
software...
the rest below are all free)
- 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003,
2002 (aka XP), 2000, 97
- usually obtained as part of Microsoft Office
(H&B edition and up)
- full-featured
- extremely customizable, by users via UI & programmers (VBA)
- highly integrated with backend Exchange Server
Outlook Express
- 5 & 6 for XP only
- bundled with IE5 and IE6
- usenet newsgroups (NNTP, 1979~2003: nowadays, access via HTTP front-ends)
Windows Mail (Winmail)
- Vista only, not in Windows 7/8/8.1
- can be ported to 7/8/8.1 with complex process
- direct successor of OLX6: name change + style
update + unbundle from IE
Windows Live Mail
- part of Windows Essentials bundle (must subsequently uninstall
certain other components, even with selective install)
- 16.4 works in W8
- structurally, conceptually & settings
similar to OLX
- visually resembles OL2010 (but not 2013),
ribbon UI
- added calendar, contacts, feed
- storage
- C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows
Live Mail
- separate Inbox/Drafts/Sent/Junk
folder for each mail acct
- messages stored in discrete EML files
- common Outbox
- Quick View can show a merged all-accts view
- optional Microsoft Acct
integration
- mass deployable via offline full
installer
- supports APOP
and AUTH for POP login
Mail (modern/"Metro" app)
- Windows 8 only [now also 10, but very different]
- IMAP & EAS, no POP
- mobile app style & simplicity
- very bare bone features
Mozilla Thunderbird
- free traditional email client
- quite dated in structure, design &
features
- between OLX6 and OL2007
Webmail (various
flavors)
- size quota
- server-based, not stored locally
- like all web apps, simplistic & slow UI
- OWA preserves most essential Exchange features & mimic Outlook UI
Microsoft Exchange Server
- corporate solution
- on-premises; hosted/"online"
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