MCQ Detailed View

Hotmail, one of the earliest and most popular web-based email services, was founded in 1996 by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith. At the time, email services were mostly tied to internet service providers, meaning users could only access their email from the computer where the account was set up. Hotmail changed this by allowing users to access their email from any computer with an internet connection, completely free of charge. This innovation played a major role in shaping the way people used email globally.

The idea for Hotmail came when Jack Smith thought about accessing his email from anywhere in the world without depending on his office network. Together with Sabeer Bhatia, he worked on creating a platform that could store and manage emails online. The service was officially launched on July 4, 1996, symbolizing "freedom" from traditional email systems.

Hotmail quickly grew in popularity, reaching millions of users in just a couple of years. In 1997, Microsoft saw its potential and purchased Hotmail for around $400 million. After the acquisition, Microsoft integrated Hotmail into its MSN services and later rebranded it as Outlook.com in 2013.

The founding of Hotmail was a milestone in the history of the internet. It opened the door to other web-based applications and demonstrated the power of online accessibility. Today, even though the original Hotmail brand no longer exists, its legacy continues in modern email platforms.

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  Founded: 1996

  
  


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  Founders: Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith

  
  


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  Purpose: Provide free, web-based email accessible from anywhere

  
  


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  Launch Date: July 4, 1996

  
  


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  Acquired By: Microsoft in 1997 for approx. $400 million

  
  


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  Rebranded As: Outlook.com in 2013

  
  


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  Impact: Revolutionized email accessibility and inspired future web-based services