Comments

1. MetalHolly

   
   Posted on: June 11, 2007 at 7:38PM  

   Up until a few days ago I was using Outlook 2003 (11.8010.6568) and Outlook Connector (1.8.3501.0) to happily synchronise with Hotmail Plus. This has been the case for as long as I can remember. Then bang, no warning it goes off the air "Outlook Connector is only available to subscribers" - Funny I WAS a subscriber. Wasted hours later in trying to find the problem I have PAID AGAIN for the new upgraded Windows Live Hotmail Plus. The result "Outlook Connnector is only available to subscribers". This is probably the worst experience I have ever had with Microsoft. Now I get a lot of e-mail but I don't recall a warning that Microsoft were going to cut off my outlook connector when doing their upgrade. As for the new interface, if the Connector worked I would HOPEFULLY never see it as I'd be using Outlook 2003. What exactly have I gained for my subscription to Windows Live Hotmail Plus?
2. Brandon LeBlanc

   

   
   Posted on: June 11, 2007 at 7:50PM  

   MetalHolly,

   For Windows Live Hotmail Plus you get 4GB of email storage instead of 2GB, you get 20MB file attachments instead of 10, no ads in Hotmail or Spaces, and no account expiration.

   The current release of the Outlook Connector DOES NOT WORK with the new Hotmail.

   Today, Microsoft has released a brand new beta Outlook Connector for Windows Live Hotmail users. Check it out and download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7aad7e6a-931e-438a-950c-5e9ea66322d4&displaylang=en

   I will have a post online about the new Outlook Connector shortly.  
3. MetalHolly

   
   Posted on: June 12, 2007 at 2:46AM  

   Brandon,

   Thanks for the advice and the link. I am now able to retrieve my Hotmail in Outlook 2003 again. This is important to me as I carry my .pst file with me on a laptop to places where there is no internet access.

   I'm still annoyed that it dissapeared without warning and that the "Outlook Connector is only available to subscribers" message made me go on a wild goose chase - A more useful message would have been "Outlook connector requires an upgrade but since you are a subscriber you do not need to resubscribe. You can get the new software {here} - Sorry for the temporary loss of your service". Even better I think advance warning would have been helpful. Ho Hum..

   Thanks for getting me back to a working state.
4. Brandon LeBlanc

   

   
   Posted on: June 12, 2007 at 3:46AM  

   MetalHolly,

   I am extremely happy to hear the new Outlook Connector has gotten you up and running again.

   The new Outlook Connector has been in development for a few months and was released for the first time today. When you got that error at the time there was no new software to direct you to download.

   Microsoft has done much more with this new Outlook Connector that simply syncing email. Read about the new Connector on my extended Outlook Connector post I put online today:

   http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/archive/2007/06/11/microsoft-office-outlook-connector-beta-now-available.aspx

   - Brandon
5. Claret

   
   Posted on: June 16, 2007 at 5:23PM  

   Hi there, reading this, you are describing what I am looking for... I'm not running Vista (yet, sorry) but have Windows 2000 with Outlook 2003. I'd like to be able to synchronise my Outlook calendar with my Hotmail one; is this possible?

   I just tried to sign up for Hotmail Live as described above, but it seems only to want me to choose an identity with a hotmail.co.uk ending, why is this when I already have a hotmail.com address?
6. Brandon LeBlanc

   

   
   Posted on: June 18, 2007 at 5:17PM  

   Claret, I'm not sure what you mean by "Hotmail Live". Could you elaborate?

   In order to sync your calendar in Outlook, you must be a paid subscriber of MSN Premium, Office Live Essentials, and Office Live Premium.

   While the Outlook Connector Beta supports Outlook 2003, according to the download page is unfortunately does not support running on Windows 2000.

   - Brandon
7. littletinymonkey

   
   Posted on: July 01, 2007 at 2:19AM  

   Brandon (or someone),

   I downloaded the latest Outlook Connector beta when it came out a couple weeks ago. About 2 minutes into using it, I realized the benefit in using OC and becomming a Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscriber. At the time I was using Outlook 2003 Pro (have since tried with Office 2007 Ultimate and getting same results)...

   What happens is (oh wait, before continuing, yes I can verify that I am a subscriber (4GB storage capacity, no adds in my spaces account or in webmail, etc)) when trying to utilize the calendar feature of OC, I get the popup and resulting error in the logfile: Outlook Connector is available only to subscribers.

   I even tried using the non-beta version of OC and upgrading to Outlook 2007... Now I am sad.

   I am running Windows XP Pro Sp2 32 bit, by the way.

   I've searched and searched and searched for a way to make this work. I thought perhaps just relaxing and waiting a week or so things would work themselves out. No luck yet...

   You are welcome to ignore my cry for help or contact me directly at littletinymonkey * hotmail * com !

   Thanks.
8. Brandon LeBlanc

   

   
   Posted on: July 01, 2007 at 9:45PM  

   littletinymonkey, I actually wrote a follow-up to this post from Nick on the new Outlook Connector Beta. To sync your calendar up with the Outlook Connector beta you need to be a paid subscriber of MSN Premium, Office Live Essentials, or Office Live Premium - this does NOT include Hotmail Plus.

   You can read my follow-up post here:

   http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/archive/2007/06/11/microsoft-office-outlook-connector-beta-now-available.aspx
9. littletinymonkey

   
   Posted on: July 01, 2007 at 11:28PM  

   Brandon,

   Thanks for responding. I really hope you are not correct on what you are saying there. In fact, here's a microsoft page that states the exact opposite:

   http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102218231033.aspx#7

   "Calendar synchronization with Outlook is a paid, subscription-only feature. When you subscribe to Windows Live Hotmail, you get to synchronize notes and tasks as well as your calendar. If you are using the Outlook Connector with a free Windows Live Hotmail account, you will see an alert on the Outlook Connector toolbar."

   Hmm...
10. littletinymonkey

    
    Posted on: July 01, 2007 at 11:31PM  

    Perhaps I just need clarification as to what Windows Live Hotmail Plus is vs. what this Microsoft page is calling "subscribe to Windows Live Hotmail"...