Summary: Fact Checking the Microsoft Email Notification – ‘Action Required for users of Windows Live Mail 2012’
Comments:
- Microsoft recently sent an email notifying users of Windows Live Mail 2012 that required changes were necessary to continue to send and receive email for Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com, and MSn.com email addresses
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(Note: Email notice shown below in the ‘Additional Information’ section).
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- Microsoft’s optional recommendations (optional not necessarily required, see ‘Fact Check’ and ‘Recommendation’ section below)
- If using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 switch to the Windows included Mail App
- Take advantage of a free one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal, and which provides Outlook 2016 to connect to your account which functions with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10
- If using Windows 7, upgrade to a newer version of Windows(Windows 10) and use the included Mail App.
- Access your account using a web browser(by logging with the account username/password) to the Outlook.com web site
Fact Check:
- The notice, and limitedly, only applies to the use of the soon to be discontinued DeltaSync Protocol for sending and receiving mail and synchronizing Contacts and Calendar data in Windows Live Mail 2012
- The deprecation of the DeltaSync protocol is due to the migration of all Outlook.com type accounts to the new backend server on the Office 365 platform which does not support DeltaSync.
- The notice does not apply to end-users who have Outlook.com type accounts configured and using the POP3 or IMAP protocols in Windows Live Mail 2012(POP3 and IMAP in Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 is also not impacted)
- Contacts and Calendar data will no longer synchronize between account web based cloud services(People.live.com and Calendar.live.com) and Windows Live Mail. Any changes to Contacts or Calendar data will have to be made in both locations.
- Bottom Line Facts:
- True: All Outlook.com type accounts will be migrated to the new Office 365 back-end server
- True – After account migration Sending and Receiving of email messages will stop functioning in Windows Live Mail 2012 if using the DeltaSync protocol
- False – Sending and Receiving of email messages will not stop functioning if using POP3 or IMAP
Recommendations:
- If using POP3 or IMAP for sending and receiving mail in your Outlook,com type account(Outlook.com/Hotmail.com/Live.com/Msn.com) no changes are necessary. POP3 and IMAP will continue to function foir sending and receiving mail in Windows Live Mail 2012
- If using DeltaSync in WLM for sending and receiving mail switch to IMAP or POP3
- Use of the IMAP protocol will continue to mirror the messages and folders and subfolders between WLM and the accounts web user interface INBOX.
- If signing on to Live Services(aka Microsoft Services) in Windows Live Mail 2012
- Back up your Contacts to a CSV file or VCF files, Stop signing in to discontinue using the previously synchronized[Online-Local] database, and Import your Contacts from your backup into the Default[Local only] Contact database.
Additional Information:
- Microsoft ‘Action required for users of Windows Live Mail 2012’ email notice
Dear User,
Earlier this year we introduced a new Outlook.com that will help you collaborate with others, focus on what matters, and get more done. The new Outlook.com delivers an exciting set of new experiences across web, phone, and desktop, and we’re eager for you to start using it.
It appears that you are currently using Windows Live Mail 2012 to connect to your Outlook.com account. Windows Live Mail 2012 does not support the synchronization technologies used by the new Outlook.com. When account upgrades begin at the end of June, you will no longer be able to receive email sent to your Outlook.com account in Windows Live Mail 2012. Rest assured, you can always access your email by logging into Outlook.com from any web browser, and you will continue to have access to all your data that is currently in Windows Live Mail 2012.
If you currently use Windows Live Mail 2012, we recommend that you switch to the Mail app in Windows today. The Mail app is built in to Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10, and has a more modern design. To begin using it, simply launch the app and add your Outlook.com account.
If you are using Windows 7, you can upgrade to a newer version of Windows to enjoy the Mail app and the other benefits. If you do not wish to upgrade, you can access your account via a web browser, or, you can take advantage of a free one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal, and use Outlook 2016 to connect to your account.* This Office 365 subscription also includes other productivity applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel. It works on Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 10.
Please take action before June 30th, 2016, which is when we’ll begin upgrading accounts that currently use Windows Live Mail 2012. If you have more questions, please find answers to common FAQs in this help article, or you can contact Microsoft support.
We recognize that changes like this can be difficult, and apologize for any inconvenience this causes you. We hope that you’ll enjoy the benefits of moving to the new Outlook.com.
Sincerely,
Outlook.com team
Revisions:
May 2, 2016: Initial Draft Date
May 8, 2016: Initial Publish Date
