Hotmail provides free POP3 and SMTP access

Lifehacker posts insider rumors that POP3 access for Hotmail users has been activated in the US and Brazil.

Previously, POP3 and SMTP access was only available to paid Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscribers. POP3 and SMTP protocols allow user to use desktop-based or mobile-based (such as iPhone) email client to access Hotmail mailboxes without opening web browser to browse to web-based Hotmail online.

The free POP3 and SMTP access will be available to all, each and every Hotmail users eventually. However, during the initial rolling out stage, the POP3 and SMTP support on the Hotmail account will be enabled in stage by country and regional market. Windows Live blog announced that Hotmail users in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are the first to enjoy the free POP3 and SMTP service as part of Hotmail wave 3 roll out. Good news is, all Hotmail users should have POP3 and SMTP enabled and turned on in their account by end of 2009.

POP3 for HotMail

To setup mail client to access Windows Live Hotmail account, use the following Hotmail POP3 and SMTP configuration settings:

Incoming Server (POP3 Server): pop3.live.com
Incoming Server POP Port: 995
Incoming Server POP SSL Encryption: Yes (On or Required)

Outgoing Server (SMTP Server): smtp.live.com
Outgoing Server SMTP Port: 25
Outgoing Server Authentication: Yes (On - Use POP username and password or Hotmail credentials)
Outgoing Server TLS or SSL Secure Encrypted Connection: Yes (On or Required)

User Name: Windows Live ID (e.g. yourname@hotmail.com)
Password: password used to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live service

Note: “Log on using Secure Password Authentication (SPA)” check box in Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail should not be selected.

For user who can’t access Hotmail via POP3 yet, try Microsoft Office Outlook Connector instead.

It goes without saying that Windows Live Hotmail is far behind the curve in offering up direct mail access to its customers, lagging far behind the leader Gmail. Hotmail users might also notice integrated Windows Messenger sign-ins through a menu in the upper-right corner, providing chat capabilities while you’re in your inbox.