Microsoft rolls out Hotmail enhancements

Microsoft is set to begin rolling out the latest enhancements to its Hotmail Web mail service, with an aim to reduce clutter and make it easier to send photos and handle Office documents.

Microsoft is taking a clear shot at Google's success with its online Docs service by making a Web-based version of Office available from within Hotmail's Web interface that allows use of widely used document formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

The latest version of Hotmail will let users open and modify those document types within the browser with no additional software to download, said Dharmesh Mehta, director of product management for the company's Windows Live business. For richer document graphics, users will need to install a plugin for Silverlight, Microsoft's multimedia application.

:story: Full story: Computerworld

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Microsoft is taking a clear shot at Google's success with its online Docs service by making a Web-based version of Office available from within Hotmail's Web interface that allows use of widely used document formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

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That's a brilliant idea but should have been implemented about 5 years ago!

All they need now is to make Office2010 freely available! oh, maybe W7 Ultimate too ;)