Microsoft having problems with Hotmail server?

By Stan Beer
Friday, 30 November 2007 01:22

Home IT

Forums are alight with posters who report that they haven't been able to receive messages sent through Hotmail since November 26. Some have also expressed annoyance that they can't reach Microsoft directly to report the problem.

Posters in the US report that the problem occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday and sending a message through Hotmail generates a consistent bounce error message.

A number of posters, who are mainly business users, have expressed frustration at not being able to find a direct contact at Microsoft to report the problem. One poster went to the lengths of posting the following message to the Microsoft Technet forum in bold red lettering:

"If by chance anyone from Microsoft is reading this, please, I mean this in a nice way:  I love you guys!  You are the ones that brought the Internet to the masses in the 90's.  Without you, the world would be a very different place.  But still, you need to make it easier to have outsiders reach you.  According to my Service Prodicer(sic) (Datacenter), they have no contact info for your postmaster.  It's not right, please change this."

According to a consultant who contacted iTWire, the Hotmail issue is affecting a number business customers significantly.

"One of my customers in the recruitment industry has this problem and job applicants use hotmail rather than their employers email to ensure privacy.  Obviously it is hitting their business significantly," the consultant said.

To date, there is no report as to whether Microsoft has acknowledged the Hotmail problem or whether it has been resolved.