Back in 2002, Microsoft had Outlook Express even for Mac users. It was a useful free application for those who use Hotmail accounts. Outlook Express never made it to OS X. If they want to check their Hotmail messages, Mac OS X users are obliged to use Microsoft Entourage, a commercial application.

Screenshot 01 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 02 – Source: MacHouse

Screenshot 03 – Source: Microsoft Corp.

Things have changed over years even for Entourage users. They can still check Hotmail messages if accounts are old. But the POP function is no longer free for new Hotmail accounts. For example, if I try to add an account whose e-mail address is junk5278@live.jp… I get an error message that says ‘A Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription is required.’ (See Screenshot 01-2.) Hotmail Plus? Microsoft says you can get additional Hotmail features including POP access for $19.95 (£14.99, ¥2,510…) a year. (See Screenshot 03.)

In the meantime, Microsoft made an important announcement for Hotmail users as of January 14, 2009. The company says POP access is available to Hotmail users in nine countries including Australia, Canada, German, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. (See Screenshot 04.) Hmm… Does that mean POP access is available for Hotmail Plus only? How about e-mail accounts with live.com (live.jp, live.co.uk…) as opposed to hotmail.com? Well, let me find out if I can check Hotmail messages through a live.jp account (without Hotmail Plus) that I created several days ago, using Apple’s Mail (v. 3.5). If I can, then I should be able to do the same with Mozilla’s Thunderbird, Eudura and other e-mail applications.   Continue reading →