don't get too friendly with Microsoft

[entwisi]

BBC NEWS | Business | MSN 'to charge user fee'

OK, So basic hotmail to stay free but this could be another nail in the coffin.

 

[K.S.H]

But Mr Holloway told the paper that he thinks people will be prepared to pay about £60 a year for extra services.

Yeah - right, where's my cheque book I'll send it now

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

That'll be the day my kids stop using it then and find something else. As if they don't make enough flippin money at Microsoft!

 

[entwisi]

I'm happy for it to happen, It will drive more and more momentum away from the relience people have on them

 

[Neil]

I'm happy for it to happen, It will drive more and more momentum away from the relience people have on them

And that can only be a good thing

 

[Alvin the chipmunk]

That article is from 2001? I assume this isnt still going to happen so why the thread?

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

Oooh well spotted Alvin. I hadn't seen that.

 

[shillelagh]

BBC NEWS | Business | Thousands fall for Hotmail prank

and theres another from 2006!!!

 

[andrewb]

Hehe.. how did you not come across this page before now Ian?

 

[entwisi]

heh, hadn't noticed it myself, still its clearly so believeable it shows how much trust we have in them

I pulled teh link when it was in "Most read" on BBC news, perhaps there is a game where people try to get obscure old stories on that link. A bit like Googlebaiting

 

[mr_flibble]

Microsoft did actually do it back in 2001, Basic hotmail was still free but for any more than 50mb of space you had to pay a fee. Not only that but when signing up back then the page made it look like you had no option but to pay for hotmail, with only a tiny link in the bottom right for the free version.

Lucky for me not long after this Gmail was invented.