Windows live hotmail on iPhone

Question

Setting up mail on my iPhone, I didn't see an option for MS Live Mail/Hotmail. I understand (due my mastery of search engines) that there are a few options. What's the best?

Answer 1

The priority for accessing any email service would be:

1. Exchange: Push email, folders, syncs read/unread status, contact sync, calendar sync
2. IMAP: Folders, syncs read/unread status
3. POP3: Bare bones email reading, usually only useful for a single client unless you "keep a copy on the server"

It seems that some people have had success using Exchange; IMAP seems to require either a premium account or 3rd party software; and POP3 is possible for free accounts.

Keep an eye on Apple's page as they will probably update it as new solutions are added by Microsoft.

Answer 2

From what I understand, Microsoft doesn't allow Hotmail IMAP access. The workaround is IzyMail. I haven't tried it, but it seems like it works as an intermediary between the iPhone and Hotmail servers in order to get a "simulated" IMAP experience lol.

Senseful's post has a good information. I use Exchange for my work email, calendars and contacts, and I love it. Gmail works really well with IMAP, and I really do not like POP3 from past experiences.

Answer 3

Came back to add an update:

In iOS 5 or later, you can add Microsoft Hotmail natively on the "add account" setup screen.

(In May, 2012, I started getting errors in my iPhone Exchange account setup, so I had to delete the account and re-connect via the iOS Hotmail account setup).

See http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1694 for setup instructions.