Microsoft to replace Windows Mail

Could the days of the desktop mail program be fading away? While enterprise-level businesses and customers still rely heavily on desktop PIM and email management programs like Outlook to handle their day to day operations, consumers are looking more and more to web-based methods to handle their email and scheduling duties. Google’s suite of applications, including GMail and Google Calendar have provided a useful alternative to Outlook/Apple Mail-based solutions for quite a while. Late to the game as usual has been Microsoft, who’s recently revamped Windows Live Hotmail moves the company closer to having an online experience that mirrors a software based solution. True to form, Microsoft has announced that it will be phasing out support for Outlook Express in XP, and the Windows Mail application in Vista. While Live Hotmail does have a desktop client, the web-based interface provides instant and universal access to your email, scheduling, and MSN messenger duties. Look for Windows Mail to disappear over the coming weeks as the Live Hotmail plane takes flight.

[Via PCworld.ca]

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