Unlike Gmail, Windows Live Mail (formerly known as Hotmail) never allowed POp3 access for its free users. This feature was one of the most wanted feature by Live Mail users.

Omar Shahine, lead program manager for Windows Live Hotmail, recently told that the Live Mail team would be releasing POP3 access for its users. Not all users, but to a few countries first which include United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan etc.

Windows Live Mail POP3 Configuration and Settings

If you are one of those who recently got POP3 access for your Windows Live Mail, you can configure your desktop email clients using the following settings.

POP server: pop3.live.com
POP SSL required? Yes
User name: Your Windows Live ID, for example yourname@hotmail.com
Password: The password you usually use to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live
SMTP server: smtp.live.com
Authentication required? Yes (this matches your POP username and password)
TLS/SSL required? Yes

If you are a Yahoo! Mail user and want to get POp3 access, trying getting Yahoo! Mail POP3 with YPOPs!