Microsoft Acquires Web-Mail Pioneer
Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday it has acquired Hotmail, a Sunnyvale, Calif., company that provides a free, Web-based e-mail service.
Hotmail will become part of The Microsoft Network online service that is available free to Internet users. Financial terms of the purchase were not announced.
“Hotmail has been a Web-mail pioneer,” said Laura Jennings, vice president of The Microsoft Network.
Hotmail currently has more than 9 million users worldwide. The service is supported by advertising. Northwest Airlines plans to boost fares Eagan, Minn.