Microsoft Corporation's Hotmail is a free web-based e-mail service that allows its users to access their accounts from any Internet-connected device. Hotmail features the ability to send and receive messages; edit documents; share photos, files and folders; and sync mail, contacts and calendars.

More than 360 million users on the site send approximately 10 billion messages each day.

The mission of the .Hotmail registry is to set a foundation for an experience that will provide Hotmail users with a more secure and authentic service. The company's aim with the gTLD is to enhance the way the system identifies and removes spam and other fraudulent activities. The new registry will also serve to create a more globally recognized platform and protect the brand's trademark and intellectual property.

Microsoft is in the process of assessing the additional opportunities a new gTLD for Hotmail could deliver in terms of secure communications, products and services.

At this stage we cannot confirm if the .HOTMAIL gTLD will be open to the public. For this reason we'll still allow requests to reach our database but should the gTLD end up being classified as closed then any requests we receive will be cancelled.