Outlook.com Premium preview now open to anyone in the US

Earlier this year, we first reported that Microsoft is testing Outlook.com Premium with custom domain support and more. Till now, it was available only to the invited Outlook.com users. Today, ZDNet spotted that this new program has moved from invitation-only to public-preview in the US. Anyone can now sign-up for this program by visiting this link. It costs $19.95 for the first year alone and later on it will cost you $49.99 per year.

For those unfamiliar, here are just some of the features of Outlook.com Premium:

• Five personalized email addresses: Get personalized email addresses [email protected]* for up to five people. Your new email syncs with your existing Outlook.com mailbox, so there’s no additional setup.
• Staying connected has never been so easy: Share calendars, contacts, and documents with ease. Sharing relationships are set up automatically between the people who have email addresses on your domain.
• An ad-free inbox: Outlook.com Premium has no banner ads, so you can enjoy a distraction-free view of your email, photos and documents.
• Powered by the new Outlook.com: Gain access to a new, modern inbox that includes enhanced security, privacy, and reliability features. Outlook.com gives you new ways to collaborate, manage your time, and get things done.

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.