In a surprise move, Microsoft issued a statement stating that it is stopping the support service of its custom domain server (for example name@yourchoice.com or example@example.com) immediately. This service was in existence since 2005 and the move was announced today on Windows live Admin Center page, which is the login screen for custom email addresses. Custom Domain customers shortly received a notification of the change via e-mail.
This server provides Outlook help for users to manage non-outlook.com addresses within the email environment of Microsoft Outlook. It has already stopped accepting new registrations. Though the free service has stopped, you can still avail a subscription plan: Small Business Premium Plan for just £100.80 per year. This move matches the plans of its archrival, Google, which closed its Google Apps free edition in 2008 and replaced it with Google Apps for business that is available at a subscription fee of $50 per year.
Microsoft Office 365, subscription basis cloud based productivity suite was introduced long after Outlook.com offered custom domain services. Ever since introduction, their functionalities overlap to a large extent. Being Microsoft, it is a wonder how they continued the free service for so long. Microsoft hopes to convince its users to take the $60-a-year Office 365 Small Business (which includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Lync Online).
At the moment, customers of Outlook.com are being lured away with a free three-month trial service of Microsoft Office 365 after which they have to buy a subscription to continue service.
The statement from Microsoft’s Media team announced, “Microsoft will offer existing Outlook.com custom domain customers a complimentary three month subscription to [Microsoft] Office 365 Small Business Premium. Current customers using custom domains with Outlook.com will be notified via email in the coming weeks with further details and instructions.”
Existing customers will still be able to add and remove addresses, but only for an unspecified time after which they will be removed. Outlook help team believes that this service will be functional for three to four more months. Thereafter, only native domain extensions (of Microsoft itself) will be supported on the Outlook.com email service.
Although no rumors were afloat, there were few tell tale signs that this move was in the cards. From the recent addition of Microsoft Office 360 sign up link under the sign-in button of Outlook.com to the limited services allowed by the free account; these clues should have put some light on the future developments of Microsoft.
This server provides Outlook help for users to manage non-outlook.com addresses within the email environment of Microsoft Outlook. It has already stopped accepting new registrations. Though the free service has stopped, you can still avail a subscription plan: Small Business Premium Plan for just £100.80 per year. This move matches the plans of its archrival, Google, which closed its Google Apps free edition in 2008 and replaced it with Google Apps for business that is available at a subscription fee of $50 per year.
Microsoft Office 365, subscription basis cloud based productivity suite was introduced long after Outlook.com offered custom domain services. Ever since introduction, their functionalities overlap to a large extent. Being Microsoft, it is a wonder how they continued the free service for so long. Microsoft hopes to convince its users to take the $60-a-year Office 365 Small Business (which includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Lync Online).
At the moment, customers of Outlook.com are being lured away with a free three-month trial service of Microsoft Office 365 after which they have to buy a subscription to continue service.
The statement from Microsoft’s Media team announced, “Microsoft will offer existing Outlook.com custom domain customers a complimentary three month subscription to [Microsoft] Office 365 Small Business Premium. Current customers using custom domains with Outlook.com will be notified via email in the coming weeks with further details and instructions.”
Existing customers will still be able to add and remove addresses, but only for an unspecified time after which they will be removed. Outlook help team believes that this service will be functional for three to four more months. Thereafter, only native domain extensions (of Microsoft itself) will be supported on the Outlook.com email service.
Although no rumors were afloat, there were few tell tale signs that this move was in the cards. From the recent addition of Microsoft Office 360 sign up link under the sign-in button of Outlook.com to the limited services allowed by the free account; these clues should have put some light on the future developments of Microsoft.
I am looking for alternative to outlook and i have found Zoho and Banckle email service providers a better choice because Banckle is offering 5 free custom domains to users using free plan.
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