That's right, your eyes are not misleading you. Windows Live Hotmail. And no! It is not a hybrid between Windows Live Mail and Hotmail, although this would be the first guess. In fact, it is a rebranding. Richard Sim, Live Senior Product Manager, revealed that when Windows Live Mail will be launched globally, it will bear the Windows Live Hotmail brand. Apparently, this change is due to customer feedback.

“Just on the heels of another great release for the beta (M9), I’d like to share some interesting news to our loyal users. When we launch the mail service worldwide, it will be named Windows Live Hotmail. That’s right! And for starters, some of you will begin to see the Windows Live Hotmail brand show up in the beta – first in our Microsoft internal version (dogfood) and eventually in the public version in the coming weeks,” Sim said.

According to Microsoft, the purpose of the Windows Live Mail was to build a faster, simpler and safer mail service for the Hotmail customers and also a service that would bring in a broader audience. While building Windows Live Mail from the ground up, Microsoft started to take into account the fact that the users perceived Live Mail as an upgrade to Hotmail.

“As we prepare to launch the final version of our new web mail service, we recognize the importance of ensuring that our 260+ million existing customers come over to the new service smoothly and without confusion. By adopting the name “Windows Live Hotmail”, we believe we’re bringing together the best of both worlds – new and old. We’re able to offer the great new technology that Windows Live has to offer while also bringing the emotional connection many existing and loyal users have with Hotmail,” Sim added.