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MSN Forces Outlook POP

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the you-gotta-be-kidding dept.

Phoenix-D writes: "Qwest.net, my Phoenix-area DSL provider and ISP, recently decided to hand over their ISP buisness to MSN. No huge deal, right? Well, check out this blurb: 'Due to the Microsoft anti-spam initiative, customers are restricted to use their mail services. Therefore, POP3 service is only available when using MSN Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, or Microsoft Outlook Express.'" Awesome. Microsoft's Anti-Spam initiative forces POP users to use the primary sender of mail worms.

7 of 729 comments (clear)

  1. Easy way to end this... by fmaxwell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Send them a snail-mail to MSN stating that you are an employee of a firm that makes a commercial e-mail client that competes with Outlook. Ask MSN to provide to you, in writing, a statement about the use of non-Microsoft e-mail clients on MSN. Make sure to suggest that this be handled by their lawyers.

    If you want to really get their sphincters to pucker, send a copy to the Justice Department.

    1. Re:Easy way to end this... by Soko · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Of first glance, you would seem correct.

      However, the logical challenge is not that great.

      1. Some QWest customers do not own Microsoft Windows.
      2. Because of an MSN initiative, current customers require Windows to access thier paid for e-mail accounts
      3. Windows is a Microsoft product
      4. MSN is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft

      Microsoft is therefore requiring thier customers who currenlty do not own Windows to buy a in order to continue a service. If there are no other DSL providers in the area, Microsoft is - wittingly or not - leveraging another monopoly to stiffle compeditive products.

      Soko

      --
      "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
  2. I don't get it... by UM_Maverick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but POP is a way to *retrieve* email. How does the client that you're using to *retrieve* your mail matter when it comes to spam? Granted, OE has some mail filters that can be used, but so do other clients (procmail anyone?).

    I could see this being legit if, somehow, it prevented the SENDING of spam...but it seems like, if anything, it could only possibly prevent your receiving it...that's like telling someone...well, i don't know what that's like telling someone, because it just seems ridiculous...

    --
    Juiced? Or Not?
  3. badly worded by CodeMonky · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That sentence could be read
    "When using Outlook express, Outlook or MSN explorer you will only be able to use pop3"

    I think they need to clarify that (and I have a feeling they will if I know slashdotians).

    --
    --"Karma is justice without the satisfaction"
  4. Microsoft Anti-Spam initiative? by TZA14a · · Score: 5, Insightful
    What kind of anti-spam initiative is it that causes all the trouble? Searching for Microsoft and Anti-Spam only yields another case where it got them in trouble, Microsoft's Anti-Spam Filter Targets Competitors. Though the article is old and kind of unrelated, I find it funny that Google doesn't have a single high-ranking link to a Microsoft-owned page that describes their so-called initiative. Given how they're yapping for every piece of positive PR, how come they're not advocating their exceedingly consumer-friendly initiative a bit more publicly?
    Now, if this weren't Microsoft, who brought us everything that is good, I'd say the whole thing is just an outright lie.

  5. Re:what?! by RestiffBard · · Score: 5, Insightful



    hey moron boy, you call AOL, Earthlink and MSN being a vast choice? wait till you install Windows XP and tell me how many choices you get if you're a first time user. the argument isn't that Microsoft is anti-competitive to geeks but that they are anti-competitive to people that buy computers at walmart.

    of course I know that I can get net access from the local mom and pop. (in fact I just did yesterday) but I know people that are MCSEs that don't know they can use some other ISP even that they exist. Microsoft does have a monopoly and they are extending it by leaps and bounds with XP. Once everyone has XP installed do you think they'll buy Nero or Easy CD Creator? No of course not Microsoft has closed them out by including rudimentary cd-burning in the OS. thats not anti-competitive? then what the hell is? the list goes on and on. how can we stand by and just let this shit continue? how can you?

    This seriously brings into consideration whether or not you have a soul.

    --
    - /* dead coders leave no comments */
  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion