Hotmail is one of the most popular free Web-based e-mail systems. To simplify checking your Web-based e-mail, Microsoft even allows you access using an e-mail client like Outlook or Outlook Express. So if you want to check your Hotmail account, you can configure one of these e-mail clients to do so.

However, as many of you already know, this is about to change. Due to the increase in the amount of spam abuse, Microsoft is now removing free access to Hotmail through these e-mail clients. As of this week, any new Hotmail users wanting to access their Web-based e-mail through Outlook or Outlook Express must pay for the service. And for those of you who are currently using this feature, Microsoft plans to transition you over the next few months.

If you still want to have access to this feature, you will eventually have to sign up for one of the Hotmail subscription plans. You can choose the MSN Hotmail Plus for US$19.99 a year or you can go for the MSN Premium, which costs US$99.95 a year.