Why we've banned hotmail and msn

Well it's not that we've banned hotmail and msn email, it's just that they don't work for us anymore.

Microsoft have implemented some new email controls called 'Sender Policy Framework' (SPF) to help combat spam and protect Microsoft from the deluge of unwanted emails flying around the world; SPF is a good idea, but Microsoft have stuck it on to hotmail and msn without much consultation with other email providers around the world.

LifeSIGNS emails, ones that end in @lifesigns.org.uk, are no longer delivered to hotmail and msn addresses – this isn't about personal spam filters, our email doesn't even get that far, they're simply undelivered. We have checked with our own email providers and they have not installed SPF and are evaluating it alongside other 'authentication' systems.

I can say with confidence that SPF is negatively affecting hundreds of thousands of small companies and organisations, probably millions.

Lots of people email LifeSIGNS, think how awful it will be when a hotmail user doesn't receive a response from us – they'll assume we're ignoring them! Well, there's nothing we can do about that, but we can help our members keep in touch with us by asking you to change your email on our Message Board to something other than hotmail / msn and to re-register for our Newsletter, LifeSHINES, as soon as possible.

We suggest people sign up for a free Gmail account from Google; it's an exceptional service that will not only give you great email, but it may well help simplify your life as its unique inbox offers a lot of tools for keeping on top of email without any stress.

“But Wedge,” I hear you cry, “I can still get LifeSIGNS emails from the Board OK, and I use hotmail!” Well, I'm sure that's true, but Microsoft has thousands of email servers around the world to manage your hotmail and msn, and we might imagine that SPF has only been installed on 82% of them – but SPF will one day be installed on 100% of Microsoft servers, so you'll soon lose the ability to accept LifeSIGNS emails; without warning. So, you'll lose touch with our Newsletter, and you could even lose your Message Board account.

So, please change your email on the Message Board, and please re-register for the Newsletter now. Yes, when you change your email on the Board your account will be auto-deactivated for a short time – no need to panic, your account will be reactivated within about 20 hours – usually a lot less.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but we didn't invent SPF, and we didn't roll it out across the world without warning, Microsoft did.

Wedge