The MSN® network, the world's leading consumer network with more than 230 million unique users globally, announced that new features and functionality will soon be available to users of the MSN Hotmail® service, the world's most popular Web-based e-mail service. More than 110 million users of MSN Hotmail worldwide will be able to use the new cleaner and simpler user interface designed to help them easily manage their mail, and improved mail filter tools

"MSN is applying knowledge we’ve gained as the provider of the world’s largest e-mail service to offer consumers a better way to handle their e-mail and protect themselves from spam," said Rick Holzli, director for MSN Hotmail at Microsoft Corp. "These improvements will help ensure that users worldwide — more than 110 million now and growing every day — have a superior experience with MSN Hotmail."

Protection From Unwanted Junk E-Mail As part of the continuing effort by MSN to fight spam, the improved MSN Hotmail Junk Mail Filter will offer consumers more options that allow them to select the level of protection they desire. Once enabled, the Junk Mail Filter automatically sends unwanted e-mail to a special folder while providing consumers with an individual override control. Consumers can choose a low, high or exclusive level of filtering based on their individual needs. The low- and high-level filters use the latest techniques to identify and delete spam, while consumers who choose the exclusive level will only receive e-mail from people listed in their address book, providing the most comprehensive e-mail security and protection.

Easier to Do What Matters Responding to feedback from customers, the updated version of MSN Hotmail will provide a redesigned, more friendly and intuitive user interface with one-click access to key tools such as the Junk Mail Filter, e-mail folders and integrated services such as MSN Calendar and MSN Messenger Service. The new version of MSN Hotmail is designed in a style consistent with MSN Explorer and boasts improvements such as new icons and a Quick Address List that allows one-click entry of five of a user's most frequently used contacts to provide faster and easier creation of e-mail messages.

Available Now in 12 Languages In addition, more consumers worldwide will be able to take advantage of the MSN Hotmail service in their native language with the introduction of Swedish and Dutch language versions. With these additional language versions, MSN Hotmail, will be available in a total of 12 languages (Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish), thereby strengthening its position as the most widely accessible free e-mail client in the world.