Microsoft launches major Hotmail update

Microsoft has launched the latest version of Hotmail, the software giant's 11 year-old web-based email client. 

The company has described the upgrade as the most significant for Hotmail since its launch in 1996.

The latest version went online in 36 different languages as part of a worldwide launch. Current Hotmail users will be presented with an option to upgrade on logging into their accounts.

Microsoft decided against a completely new interface, such as that used by Google's Gmail, electing to make Hotmail behave less like a browser-based email service and more like a conventional email client. 

The company said that it has tailored the interface and behaviour of Hotmail to be more like Outlook. Hotmail will include several Outlook features, including right-click and drag-and-drop features.

Users will be able to choose between the conventional Hotmail interface or the new Outlook style.

Microsoft will also allow users to manage a Hotmail account through Outlook, and hopes to launch a free application later this month that synchronises and manages Hotmail accounts through Outlook.

Redmond has also improved message filtering for the new service, automatically labelling messages from unknown sources and potential frauds.

Spam protection has been improved to allow for better filtering of junk email by linking all spam reports to a single filter database.

Microsoft claims that there are more than 280 million active Hotmail accounts, 20 million of which took part in the public beta for the new service.

Research firm Hitwise said that Hotmail.com is the second most-popular webmail domain behind Yahoo Mail.