Microsoft Offers Android Client For Hotmail

Sometimes, pigs do fly. Or business opportunities just turn the corner and make sense.

ZoomSoftware developer Seven said that it was contracted by Microsoft to develop an Android client for its Windows Live Hotmail service.

The companies said that the app is the first Microsoft-authorized Android Hotmail client and includes push-enabled access to the user inbox, contact list and calendars. Both Seven and Microsoft are offering the app as a free download via Android Market. According to Microsoft, Hotmail currently has about 360 million active users and is the "largest webmail provider in the world."

In a press release, the company noted that it "has reengineered Hotmail and the availability of its Android app reflects a commitment to provide a great Hotmail experience to users on whichever smartphones they use." While the preferred platform may be Windows Phone, it is no secret that Android currently holds the majority of the market share in the smartphone world, if we believe popular market research.

Despite the development of its own platform, Microsoft is becoming a big player in the Android smartphone space. Most recently, Samsung agreed to pay license fees to Microsoft for every Android phone that is shipped. Goldman Sachs estimates that Microsoft will rake in more than $444 million in license fees this year alone. Obviously, Microsoft has an interest that Android is doing well.