Microsoft has finally enabled POP3 email access for all users of their Hotmail email service. This essentially means that it is now possible to configure desktop email clients to access Hotmail to retrieve and send emails using the email provider.

Here are the information that have to be entered into the desktop email software so that Hotmail can be accessed:

• Incoming Server: pop3.live.com
• Incoming Port: 995
• SSL Encryption: yes
• Outgoing Server: smtp.live.com
• Outgoing port: 25 (use port 587 if the default port is not working)
• Authentication: yes
• TLS Or SSL: yes

Please note that the names might differ depending on the desktop email client in use. The values on the other hand do not change. The username (usually the Windows Live Hotmail email address) and password are the same that are used when logging into the Hotmail website using a web browser.

There is no need for configuration of POP3 on the Hotmail website. This is a difference to how Gmail is handling external access as it has to be explicitly activated in the email web interface before it is possible to access a Gmail account using POP3 or SMTP.

Source :: ghacks