Soon after Hotmail’s launch came Yahoo Mail, followed by Gmail in 2004. Microsoft purchased Hotmail in 1997, eventually replacing it with. In 1996, a website known as Hotmail came along, giving consumers a way to check their email directly from a web browser. If the computer was connected to the network, emails were backed up on a regular basis, but most of the activity took place on the device itself. Whether you’re in the market for a new email provider, or you simply want to know what else is out there, there are a few differentiators to keep in mind.Īt one time, email software was manually installed on each computer. Each platform has its own features, bringing pros and cons along with it. Whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or Yahoo Mail, chances are, you check for messages numerous times throughout the day.īut not all email platforms are created equal. It’s hard to remember a time before email.