Microsoft Testing Outlook.com Premium With Custom Domain Support

Microsoft is currently testing Outlook.com Premium service. Outlook.com Premium has nothing to do with the current Ad-free Outlook.com which you can get for $19.95 USD a year. The Outlook.com Premium Preview will offer a personalized email address for you to create and manage. This is similar to the custom domain support which Microsoft was offering on Hotmail and later discontinued. Microsoft confirmed that they are evaluating interest in custom domains for Outlook.com.

At this time, we are testing with a limited number of users in the United States and will evaluate the experience over time. The previous program required the user to manage the process of purchasing a domain. We are evaluating the appeal of custom domains but with Microsoft managing the processes of procuring the domain.

Microsoft’s support page for this Outlook.com Premium is now live and it details how the personalized  email address service will work.

Microsoft has partnered with GoDaddy to supply the email domain you choose to power your personalized email address. Personal email domain names are subject to availability and GoDaddy’s terms. Microsoft has paid for the first year of support with GoDaddy for the domain. Your personal email domain does not renew with your Outlook Premium or Office 365 annual subscription. You can renew the domain on an annual basis directly with GoDaddy or the domain registrar of your choice after the first year; additional charges may apply. You will receive a notice to renew the domain registration shortly before the one-year anniversary of your subscription.

If you decide to discontinue use of your personal domain, Microsoft will provide the option on the Outlook.com Domain Dashboard to close your domain. If you close your domain, you, and the other members of your personal domain, will stop receiving email at your personal email addresses. You will continue to receive email to your original email addresses.

For $20 per year, if Microsoft offers custom domain support and ad free experience, will you be happy to sign-up?