Another big feature of Outlook.com is social networking integration. Instead of the standard e-mail inbox, users will be able to view status updates and content from Facebook, Google, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Microsoft also plans to enhance Outlook.com with Skype, which would give it similar functionality to the found in Gmail.

Outlook will automatically sort these social updates into various categories, Jones says, in addition to automatically detecting message types, such as shipping updates, newsletters, and important e-mails from your contacts.

Outlook also includes free web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and additional storage space for attachments will be provided through its .

While Microsofts e-mail service may be changing, your e-mail address will not. An outlook.com e-mail address will be available to those who request it or sign up through the preview. However, longtime Hotmail users can keep their @hotmail.com, @live.com, and @msn.com addresses, as well as their own contacts and settings when using the new service.