Microsoft has introduced a latest email import tool that does all the hard work of transferring emails from a Gmail account to Outlook.com if users choose to switch their service.
Microsoft is considering all possible options to attract Google users towards its services. Microsoft has introduced a new tool that should simplify the process of switching from Gmail to Outlook.com. The software giant transfers the email messages in the background so users are not kept waiting to use their service.
The new import tool, which is currently being rolled out, copies all emails in the same structure as they are in the Gmail account. This means any email that is marked "unread" will be moved in the same status to Outlook.com. The tool allows users to set up an Outlook.com account, connect it with a Gmail account and using the secure OAuth protocol, the transfer is carried out. Since users connect both accounts, they can access Google Talk and Gmail contacts within Outlook.
Microsoft also lets users continue sending emails with their gmail.com domain attached to it. Users need not wait until the transfer happens to log out of their accounts.
"The import happens in the background, so you can continue using Outlook.com or even log out while it's happening. Once the import is complete, we'll send you an email to let you know we've finished," Microsoft's Naoto Sunagawa said in a blog, Wednesday.
Though, most of the migration process is taken care of by Microsoft, users are required to manually forward future emails to be sent to Outlook.com instead of Gmail. Microsoft gives step-by-step information to set up auto-forwarding of new messages on Gmail once all the email messages have been copied to the new email service.
Microsoft retired its Hotmail service a year ago and is attempting to regain its lost user-base from Gmail.
"You can always return to Gmail and continue to use it in the way you always have. However, we're confident that once you try Outlook.com, you'll love it, " said Sunagawa
If you are willing to give Microsoft's free email service a shot, head over here to create a new account. Microsoft has not revealed any plans of developing a similar tool to import emails from Yahoo Mail, which is currently undergoing a major setback due to its unresolved outage.
