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Hotmail!

Hotmail is a web-based email service that was launched in 1996 by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith. It was one of the first free web-based email services and quickly gained popularity due to its ease of use and accessibility.

Here are some interesting facts about Hotmail:

  1. First free web-based email service: Hotmail was the first free web-based email service, allowing users to access their email accounts from anywhere with an internet connection.
  2. Acquired by Microsoft: In 1997, Microsoft acquired Hotmail for $400 million, making it one of the company's largest acquisitions at the time.
  3. Rise to popularity: Hotmail's popularity soared in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with over 100 million users by 2001.
  4. Integration with Outlook: In 2005, Microsoft integrated Hotmail with its Outlook email service, allowing users to access their Hotmail accounts through Outlook.com.
  5. Rebranding as Outlook.com: In 2012, Microsoft rebranded Hotmail as Outlook.com, introducing a new interface and features such as calendar and contacts integration.
  6. Phasing out Hotmail: In 2013, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out the Hotmail brand, encouraging users to switch to Outlook.com.

Today, Outlook.com is one of the most popular email services in the world, with over 400 million active users. While Hotmail is no longer a separate brand, its legacy lives on as a pioneering force in the development of web-based email services.