Microsoft’s Outlook approaching Google in security

According to a Official blog post of Outlook team, Microsoft has upgraded the security of Outlook Hotmail Connector, a move which is a follow-up of adding an all–HTTPS option in November 2010.

The new Outlook Hotmail Connector encrypts traffic between email client and Windows live Hotmail service.

According to Outlook team when we are connected via HTTPS we should be confident enough that our account is safe from Hijackers. The new Outlook Hotmail Connector encrypts email, calendar and contact services between Outlook and Windows live.

Gmail users were having option of encrypting Gmail traffic from 2008, but in January 2008 when Chinese Hackers tried to access Gmail accounts of human rights activists of that country, Gmail enabled HTTPS to default.

Outlook Hotmail Connector is available for download at Microsoft website in 32-bit (or by clicking on 32 bit link) and 64-bit (or by clicking on 64 bit link) version for Outlook 2003, 2007 and 2010 but Outlook Hotmail Connector is not available for Outlook 2011. 

You can also download Windows Live essential update which also include HTTPS enabled Windows Live Mail from Microsoft website or by clicking on this link.

Facebook in a defensive mode against Google+

After the launch of Google+ project by Google and seeing the growing enthusiasm among masses for Google+ project. Facebook is trying to protect itself from Google+ wave by announcing several features in Facebook.

Last week only Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that today’s announcement will be “awesome”. Now Facebook has entered into a partnership with Skype to bring video chat to Facebook. The news was accompanied by a new group chat feature for the site.

Google+ project also has a similar feature called “Hangouts” which supports online group conference calls. Now Facebook will work with Skype for its own group call feature.

According to Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with Gartner “the Skype deal isn’t something that has happened in a week  but Google’s announcements has accelerated it”.

Facebook launch of video conferencing feature clearly states that they are not going to stand still and watch Google+ coming on. While Google and Facebook were competitiors and also Microsoft and Google are competitiors.

In May Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion and now Microsoft and Facebook have joined hands to fight the common competitior.

Baidu to use Microsoft’s Bing search result

According to IDG News service Baidu, China’s largest search engine will use Microsoft’s Bing search result for English language. Deal in financial term is not disclosed yet.

Last year Google has pulled its search engine from China over a dispute over censorship with Chinese government. Now Google.cn page redirects user to Google’s Hong Kong site.

Baidu holds nearly 80% search engine market in China. Now its English language results through Bing will boost its share even higher. Last month Baidu had a deal with Qunar, a Chinese travel search engine of $306 million to make Baidu a majority share holder in Qunar.

Microsoft is also eager to gain better access to Chinese 480 million internet users to decrease the vast lead in Global search engine market by Google(91.07%) whereas bing has market share of 3.21%. Figures generated on Monday by Statcounter’s GlobalStats website