Microsoft sets e-mail limits to fight spam

[sbp]

REDMOND, Washington (AP) (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/03/26/hotmail.spam.ap/index.html) -- To cut down on junk e-mail, Microsoft Corp. is capping the number of e-mails that users of its free Hotmail service can send each day.

By limiting to 100 the number of messages that could be sent in a 24-hour period, Microsoft's MSN division hopes to stop people from using its service to send the unsolicited messages, known as spam.

"MSN is strongly committed to helping stop the widespread problem of spam and this change is one way we are preventing spammers from using Hotmail as a vehicle to send the unwanted e-mails," said Lisa Gurry, MSN lead product manager.

Microsoft said it viewed the limit as a reasonable cap that would affect less than 1 percent of its active subscriber base of 110 million. The company would not disclose its previous cap.

The limit took effect earlier this month. It does not apply to MSN 8 subscribers or those who purchase extra storage on Hotmail.

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Getting those make your breast grow or penis extenders spam is the highlight of anyone's day. :bleh:

[poursoul]

sounds good, that's actually a great idea.

[sytaylor]

Yah, for those of us who dont use it as a messenger service, just hope proper email servers dont follow suit.

[vampireuk]

Well I don't think many people send 100 emails a day from their regular account. I send about 10 at most even with my nv account. A wise move with limiting the hotmail account though:cool:

[sytaylor]

From work i can send upwards of 300 a day quite easily, about 50 of which are business, its used more than the telephone for some things :rolleyes:

But i guess thats difference considering its work, where theres a business need they'll keep the ability to do something

[Son Goku]

Originally posted by sytaylor
From work i can send upwards of 300 a day quite easily, about 50 of which are business, its used more than the telephone for some things :rolleyes:

But i guess thats difference considering its work, where theres a business need they'll keep the ability to do something

The problem is that some spammers could try to argue that advertising is a business need...albeit one that is no less irritating then telemarketers, door to door salesmen, and the like. There are people who can send more then 100 a day. For opt in e-lists, and note not this opt out crap some spammers try to push for...there can be a necessity to send things. Some of the classes I've taken which have a class list-serve If the students are using it to study for tests and communicate with class mates...