Microsoft backflips on ridiculous Hotmail name change
Microsoft has backflipped on it plan to completely kill off the Hotmail brand. Instead of calling its new web mail service Windows Live Mail, it will now call it Windows Live Hotmail.
User power saves Hotmail brand
Microsoft has been developing a new web mail service, which the company says is faster, simpler, and safer than its old Hotmail platform. Microsoft’s plan was to call the new service Windows Live Mail.
According to Senior Product Manager, Richards Sim, users testing the new web mail service were confused by the name Windows Live Mail when they thought the new service was an upgrade to Hotmail:
“We found that many users were extremely loyal to the Hotmail brand and perceived the beta as an upgrade to Hotmail. In fact, our most loyal users have been very happy with Hotmail for years and while they loved the improvements in the beta, some were a bit confused by name change,” Sim wrote on the company blog.
“By adopting the name “Windows Live Hotmail”, we believe we’re bringing together the best of both worlds – new and old. We’re able to offer the great new technology that Windows Live has to offer while also bringing the emotional connection many existing and loyal users have with Hotmail.”
Kudos to Microsoft for listening to its customers and for keeping “Hotmail” as part of the name of its new mail service.
On another note, is it just me, or do other people find the “Windows Live” branding strategy a tad ridiculous. So far we’ve got Windows Live Favorites, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Search, Windows Live Alerts, and Windows Live Local, and of course Windows Live Hotmail.
Of course I understand that Microsoft is trying to achieve consistent branding across its products and services. Google has used a similar branding strategy very effectively; just look at Google Earth, Google Maps, Google News and Google Video.
Somehow “Windows Live” just doesn’t work. It’s a mouth full and it’s too long.
“Windows Live” is two thirds of every product name, ie WINDOWS LIVE Messenger, whereas with Google, the “Google” is just half of every product name.
With the Windows Live branding strategy we end up with a number of products and services that all seem to be called “Windows Live”.
No doubt an advertising agency was paid a lot of money to come up with the “Windows Live” concept. And no doubt another agency will be paid a lot of money to undo the mess when Microsoft finally realizes how ridiculous it is.
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February 9th, 2007
But nobody will call it Windows Live Hotmail!!! Does anybody call it MSN Hotmail now? because thats what it officially is. So the name change doesnt matter, no-one will say it anyway.
February 9th, 2007
I agree with you. It should be like google. Keep it Simple call the services Microsoft Hotmail or Windows Hotmail. I’d respect is more as a user. Unless they think the word Microsoft or Windows has a negative connotation because MS. Windows is seen as such a crappy OS-even though it is the most widely used and best compatible with everything computer-wise out there. Even so not worth changing to Windows Live Hotmail if they’re gonna do that just get rid of Microsoft and and Windows and call it Live Hotmail
February 10th, 2007
Hotmail doesnt even seem to work today anyway!
February 11th, 2007
could it just be called ‘WIN_LiVE’ simple maybe to simple??? or it could be a WINner!!!!