Difference Between Outlook and Hotmail

In the corporate world, email is the primary means of communication and it is very common in the workplace to exchange a truckload of emails every day, if not on an hourly basis. Emails are the most trusted mode of business communication as well as personal communication, which are not only easily accessible but cheap. Especially for businesses, emails are proved to be great communication tools that provide efficient ways to send and receive all kinds of electronic data securely and safely. The best part about emails is that they are not limited to geographical barriers; you can make contact with almost anyone from any part of the world, regardless of your location. Hotmail was one of the world’s first email services to blaze the grounds of the email arena. Hotmail went through a crazy roller coaster ride, from its humble beginnings to its acquisition by tech giant Microsoft to its several rebranding and all the way up to its final transition to Outlook.com. But, Hotmail does not work anything like Outlook.

What is Hotmail?

Hotmail, or Windows Live Hotmail, as it officially goes by now, is a free web based email service by tech giant Microsoft Corporation, second in popularity after the Google’s Gmail. Hotmail was originally founded by two software developers Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia, and launched on the 4th July 1996, the United States Independence Day. It was one of the world’s first web based email services when it was launched. In 1997, Microsoft bought Hotmail for approximately $400 million and the email service has never been the same since then. Microsoft struggled with Hotmail a lot in the initial years, adding new years but used to suffer from several performance problems. Ultimately, Microsoft brought in Hotmail under its Microsoft Network (MSN) corporate umbrella, and rebranded it as MSN Hotmail. It could not have been a better time for Hotmail when it actually needed new services for its members. But the rebranding did not just stop there – in 2013, Hotmail transitioned to Outlook.com.

What is Outlook?

Outlook is the Microsoft’s email software program that enables you to send and receive emails on your device, store names and numbers of your contacts, take notes, manage your tasks, manage your calendar, and also browse Internet. Available as part of the Microsoft Office suite, Outlook is a great tool for getting work done. Although, best known for email, Outlook is more than just an email program; it’s a tool that most of the corporate world relies on almost every single day. There are hundreds of versions of Outlook used by millions of people every day. It was designed to help you organize your daily information easily and automatically. Outlook is everything you need to manage your daily tasks, appointments, email messages, calendars, and other details. It can be viewed as a personal information manager that serves as your personal assistant that helps you keep track of your both personal and business information all in one convenient location.

Difference between Outlook and Hotmail

Product 

– Hotmail was one of the world’s first web based email services when it was launched by two software developers Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia in 1996 on the same day as the birth of American independence (4th July). Hotmail was acquired by Microsoft in 1997 and the email product has never been the same since then. It has become so popular over the years that Microsoft decided to give it a big upgrade overhaul by transitioning it into a modern email program Outlook.com. Outlook is a full-fledge email program and much more.

Functionality

 – Both Hotmail and Outlook are email related products, but one is a Microsoft’s email service since 1997, and the other one is more than just an email program. Outlook is available as a part of Microsoft Office suite which enables you to send and receive emails on your device, store names and numbers of your contacts, take notes, manage your tasks, manage your calendar, and also browse Internet. Hotmail has been upgraded and rebranded to Outlook. Outlook is a feature-laden business productivity tool and a personal information manager, and is everything you need to manage your daily tasks, appointments, email messages, calendars, and other details.

Outlook vs. Hotmail: Comparison Chart

Summary

While both Hotmail and Outlook are essentially the same thing, they work differently. Hotmail was a web based email service which was originally founded by Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia, but later acquired by Microsoft and went on to become one of the most popular webmail email services of its time. After its acquisition by Microsoft, it went through several upgrade overhauls and name changes over its course of years, from being renamed to MSN Hotmail to its rebranding as Windows Live Hotmail and finally, being transitioned to Outlook.com. So, Hotmail is now officially Outlook and the move was more than just a simple change of name. Outlook is now one of the most popular email clients out there; in fact, it is a granddaddy of email programs which is more than a email program. It is a productivity tool that most of the corporate world relies on almost every single day.

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