Microsoft will be launching the next generation of Hotmail or possibly of web mail in general. The new version is being called Hotmail Wave 4 and it will pack a feature set very similar to what Gmail currently offers. In some cases, it will take things to the next level. Boring email attachment and links are automatically displayed as previews. Threaded conversations, ridiculous amounts of cloud storage, and advanced search will all make an appearance.
Hotmail Wave 4 helps you work smarter and be more productive. You can do more with your email without ever leaving your inbox. If someone sends you a bunch of photo attachments, you can view them as a photo gallery rather than downloading them all or opening too many browser tabs. The same goes for documents and presentations. Taking things a step further, even links to photos and videos are handled intelligently, embedding the content directly in the email. If you receive a document that requires editing, you can do so right inside of Hotmail and send it back as a reply. No need to even download the document locally.
Hotmail is the #1 web mail client worldwide and is only second to Yahoo in the US. Gmail has been running a close 3rd for a while now. While Hotmail Wave 4 is stomping on Gmail’s toes by adding tagging, smart filtering, and conversation views (rather than simple chronological order), it is completely destroying Gmail as far as handling attachments.
- Gmail has a maximum size of 25MB for attachments. Hotmail is giving you 50MB per attachment.
- Hotmail will let you attach 10GB of data to a single email. Not only is this a ridiculous amount of data to be able to send, but it’s 400 times what Gmail will let you do. This will let you send just about anything you want via email: entire photo albums, a few mixtapes, full-length movies, etc.
- Instead of downloading documents, editing them, and then sending back as an attachment in your reply, just edit the document in Hotmail as your reply in one step.
Windows Live Skydrive and Silverlight are the technologies behind the scenes that makes this all look like magic. Email has been around forever, but hasn’t really changed much. Gmail pushed the boundaries, but is still just scratching the surface. The new Hotmail will allow you to do those things you’ve always wished your email did.
I just wonder how long it will take Gmail to notice they are being left behind. It will also be interesting to see how many Gmail users jump ship and how many dormant Hotmail accounts get put back on active duty. Look for the new Hotmail this summer.