Microsoft recycling Outlook email accounts; not mentioned in service agreement

[JMH]

Microsoft's Outlook.com service has been live for over a year now, but it looks like people who don't sign into their Microsoft Account in a timely fashion could find that their email addresses are freed up after a period of nearly a year.

According to PCWorld, Microsoft's service agreement does day that users must sign onto their Microsoft Account at least once every 270 days. If they don't, the agreement says their access could be canceled and their online data might be deleted. However, that same public agreement says nothing of Microsoft allowing others to access that now unused email address again.

Microsoft recycling Outlook email accounts; not mentioned in service agreement - Neowin


http://www.pcworld.com/article/20525...-accounts.html

 

[Corrine]

Yet another journalist gets it wrong!

Another one got it wrong. It is not necessary for a Microsoft Account to be an Outlook email address. As indicated in section 2.3 of the referenced Microsoft Services Agreement, other email addresses can be used to create a Microsoft Account, the purpose of which is to access various Microsoft services. From the same paragraph of the that references signing into the Microsoft Account, those services are not limited to email:

The Microsoft account, formerly known as Windows Live ID, is the credentials you will use to authenticate with our network. To create a Microsoft account, you must provide a user name and password, certain demographic information, and "account proofs", such as an alternative email address or phone number. Existing Microsoft account holders may need to provide "account proofs" to continue using their Microsoft account. You are responsible for keeping your account information and password confidential. You can use your Microsoft account to gain access to other Microsoft products, websites or services (such as Windows, Xbox LIVE and Windows Phone); however, the terms and conditions for those products, websites or services, if different from this agreement, may also apply to your use of that product, website or service.

For email, it has always been a requirement to sign in at least once every 365 days. As indicated in the Office blog, at Outlook Blog - An update to linked accounts, the only exception is formerly linked accounts:

Note: Normally you have to sign in to an account every 365 days to keep it active. Formerly-linked accounts are exempt from this requirement so you don't need to visit them regularly.