Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
msn.com appears to be a desirable domain name for email addresses. Unfortunately it's not that easy to get an msn.com email address.
How do I get an email address that ends in "@msn.com"? All I see are options for "@hotmail.com" when I go to MSN to create a free email account.
•
This question, which I actually get surprisingly often, puzzles me. I scratch my head in wonder each time I get it.
My question to everyone who keeps asking is this: Why? What's the big deal about an msn.com email address?
•
MSN Hotmail is MSN's free email service. So if you want to sign up for a free email account with MSN, then MSN Hotmail is the service you use, and your email address will be something@hotmail.com. That's the way the free service works.
I believe that the msn.com domain is used if you sign up for MSN Premium. The catch? It's not free. While you are getting some additional services as well, the fact is you'll incur a monthly charge.
Now, occasionally ISPs may offer MSN Premium as part of their package, but again, it's part of what you're paying to get your internet connectivity.
I know of no way to get an "msn.com" email address for
free. (See Update below.)
Now, my question to you...
Why do you care?
I get this question often enough that I'm convinced I must be missing something. Is there some kind of status or prestige associated with msn.com? Is there something else you can do with an msn.com email address that you can't with hotmail.com?
Honestly, I just don't get it.
Maybe someone will educate me.
Update: Reader GT provided this link: https://accountservices.passport.net/reg.srf?ns=msn.com&sl=1&lc=1033 which does indeed appear to allow anyone to create an @msn.com address.
But I'm still unclear as to why that's so important to some people.
Article C2717 - July 9, 2006 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
March 27, 2009 8:11 PM
ha ha! I have both msn and hotmail accounts (several in fact). key reason is msn seems more professional and gives a better impression. hotmail sounds cheap, free and childish. giving out a hotmail address sounds like asking someone to go on a date, msn sounds professional. Kind of like aol makes you wonder why someone is still paying that kind of money for poor service. the tag lines make a difference depending on what you are trying to accomplish. As to the original question, msn is no longer free so hotmail it is...sorry. I would suggest contacting msn directly if you really have to have it.
March 28, 2009 6:31 AM
The reason I like msn and want an email address to end with msn.com instead of hotmail.com or q.com is pretty much in line with the comment posted by: Leeta on March 27, 2009 8:11 PM. Additionally, I would comment that the spam filtering is something that seems to work best with the msn system. I've cancelled other email domains because of experiencing terrible spam filtering. If you don't want to have to filter through 75-100 spams, then msn or hotmail seems to be the answer for me. I also don't get the chance to check email more than once per day, because I actually work for a living, so to sift through email for legitimate messages is taxing. Msn instead of hotmail seems more mature and professional for those of us who are over 40, and by the way, some people don't appreciate the under 21 from the neck up attitude nowadays. I have better things to do than text message when someone is having a conversation (that type of rudeness is not acceptable) with me. So, I am the type of person who may prefer a professional look and this comment may help with why msn over hotmail.
March 29, 2009 8:03 AM
I too would like to have an ms.com email account?
Why is it so important - Seems in the past - AOL and MSN did/do not speak to each other!!! Friends are on MSN and we would like to be on it as well!! That's the Big Deal...
Thanks, Leo.
April 1, 2009 1:47 PM
I set up an msn.com e-mail account just now using the link that reader GT provided. It is still free of charge
April 2, 2009 8:55 AM
Be sure to check out the "Update" in the article which includes the link that, as of this writing, still works to get you a free "@msn.com" email address.
Even after all the comments I still don't get most of the arguments about why it's so important to some people. msn.com and hotmail.com are provided by the same company, have pretty much the same (poor) reputation among professionals, and use the same servers and technology. There's very little difference between them in any practical sense.
02-Apr-2009
•
Comments on this entry are closed.
If you have a question, start by using the search box up at the top of the page - there's a very good chance that your question has already been answered on Ask Leo!.
If you don't find your answer, head out to http://askleo.com/ask to ask your question.