Microsoft officials are acknowledging that they are arranging to add ActiveSync assistance to Hotmail on August 30.The new capacity will let Hotmail users get push e-mail on cell phones and other devices (even when they aren;t trying to sync with an Exchange Server on the back-end),
Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus, enterprise execs advised News.com on August 26. The ActiveSync addition also will enable Hotmail users to sync contacts and calendars across their iPhones, iPod Touch units, Android phones and (when they're accessible) their Windows Phone seven gadgets.Update: ZDNet UK has a good overview of their assessments of ActiveSync on Hotmail on Windows Mobile, Android and other smartphones.LiveSide.net noted back again in June 2010 that Microsoft was testing ActiveSync for Hotmail, and that a number of consumers had it operating. In mid-August — shortly after Microsoft announced it had completed rolling out the new Hotmail Wave 4 release to all of its Hotmail people — LiveSide reported that some end users were able to access ActiveSync for Hotmail, but some were not. Earlier this week, LiveSide noted that it seemed as though Microsoft was preparing to offer ActiveSync for Hotmail more broadly.I;m unclear whether Microsoft will simply turn on the ActiveSync support for all existing Hotmail end users on Monday the 30th or if the firm will begin rolling out this capability to its hundreds of millions of Hotmail end users starting then. I;ve asked for clarification, but no word back again yet from the Softies.I;ve also asked whether Microsoft will be rolling out any other new features or fixes next week, given that a variety of Hotmail people have been reporting problems accessing their Hotmail and contacts since Microsoft did the Wave 4 Hotmail rollout. (I;m still getting mail from folks having Hotmail problems, asking for help.) No word back again on that yet, either.Update No. 2: Microsoft isn;t answering any questions until Monday — not even whether this is the start of a progressive rollout or whether everyone will get ActiveSync come Monday. Here;s the official (non) comment from a firm spokesperson:“We can confirm that Exchange Active Sync will be available on Monday as part of the ongoing Windows Live updates for consumers. We will provide additional details on the Inside Windows Live blog when we release this on Monday.”