A Web-based e-mail client, tentatively called Office Live Mail, could be a key piece of Microsofts forthcoming Office Live software-as-a-service offering, according to a published report.
A posting on the LiveSide blog—an independent site run by a number of Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, among others, that is dedicated to tracking Microsofts Live efforts—describes the alleged features of Office Live Mail.
“Office Live Mail provides users with the ability to read and receive emails from any Internet-connected computer in the world. Ideal for those on the move, Office Live Mail can be accessed from either a web browser or Outlook 2000/2003. Here are some things to expect upon the release of the beta,” according to the LiveSide description.
Office Live Mail will be offered in two flavors, the posting on LiveSide said. Free accounts will provide users with 250MB of storage, while paid, subscriber accounts will offer 2GB of storage.
Office Live mail will provide Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2003 access via HTTP as a “trial service,” the report said, and will allow users to read messages from their MSN Plus, MSN Premium and other POP accounts.
The new service also will allow users to assign up to 100 “favorite contact” or “Quickname” designations to e-mail buddies, the LiveSide said.