As you’d expect, the new Outlook.com carries the Windows 8 metro looks and comes with tighter social integration. Microsoft is clearly aiming to consolidate its Office 2013 branding by clubbing its native Outlook email client on PCs with the webmail service. The user interface is in-line with Windows 8 Metro UI and even claims to be the first email service to integrate Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Skype. If you are keen to understand the new features, check out the videos at the end of this article. But if you are eager to preview the brand new Outlook.com webmail, here is a simple tutorial to help you get started.
How to Upgrade from Hotmail to Outlook.com
Once you login to Hotmail (with your Live.com or hotmail.com id), look for Options on top right corner. Click on that and look for Upgrade to Outlook.com option. Clicking this will take you directly to the new metrofied Outlook.com UI. This is good enough if you just intend to use your old hotmail.com or live.com email id, but with more features and better looking UI.
Create a Outlook alias
Alternately, you can create a Outlook.com alias, which will be integrated with your old email id, but provides you an opportunity to get a new email ID with your desired username. You can continue to use both the email IDs and manage them from a single interface. In order to do this, click on Settings icon on top right corner & then click on More Options.
This will open the Options page. Now look for Create a Outlook alias under Managing your account section.
Clicking on that should open the below screen.
Enter your desired username and click on Create an alias. That’s it! You now have a new Outlook.com email address.
Rename your email address
This option is for those who want to completely move away from their old live.com or hotmail.com address to a brand new Outlook.com address. But be careful. If you were using your old email to setup Windows Phone, do NOT rename to Outlook. This is because, features like Windows Phone Marketplace, Xbox LIVE, SkyDrive, email and others will stop working. If you still intend to rename your old email address, go to Options page (as explained above) and click on Rename your email address option under Managing your account section.
Once you click on Save button, your new Outlook.com ID will start working just like your old ID. And here are the videos as promised earlier.
