Earlier this year you might recall that Microsoft launched a new Outlook.com Premium subscription which costs customers $19.95 a year. The premium subscription essentially removed ads from the email service as well as offer up various new features and security tools for those who might need it.Unfortunately it looks like the plan was short-lived as Microsoft has since announced that they will be closing off new subscriptions to the service. “The Outlook.com Premium standalone offering is now closed to new subscribers. Current subscribers can renew their subscriptions and continue receiving the same benefits. We have no plans to discontinue the standalone subscription for existing subscribers at this time.”
Instead it seems that Microsoft has decided that they will bundle Outlook.com’s Premium features for Office 365 Home and Personal subscriptions, so if you didn’t really need it before but are already subbed to Office 365, we guess this is kind of a nice bonus. Essentially users who have paid and do plan to keep paying for the Premium subscriptions can continue to do so, at least until Microsoft decides to axe it for good.
However for those who just want the Premium features but not a subscription to Office 365 Home or Personal, then we guess you’d be out of luck.