Microsoft Pilots Outlook.com's Premium Version With Custom Domain Accounts

Microsoft, just a day after rolling out the revamped Outlook.com version with new features, has started testing a premium version of the service called Outlook.com Premium with a limited number of users.

The Redmond-based company confirmed to ZDNet that it is indeed piloting the premium version, but did not mention when it will roll it out or how much it will cost.

"Outlook.com Premium is not an existing offering, it is an experiment that we are piloting. We're always investigating new features based on the wants and needs of our users, and we have nothing more to share at this time," a spokesperson said.

The new version of Outlook.com enables users to set up new custom domain accounts. It is worth noting that Microsoft back in 2014 removed the particular feature from Outlook.com.

"We 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," added the spokesperson.

Microsoft earlier this week started rolling out its revamped Outlook.com with new features to users. The version was under Preview since May last year. The new website includes loads of features, the highlight of which is the inclusion of the Giphy add-in.

New Outlook.com users in the US (North America) region will see the revamped interface right away, while those who already have an account will see the redesigned version soon and won't need to take any action to get the update.

The new Outlook.com is based on Office 365 infrastructure and includes all the recently added Office 365 features including the ability to automatically add flight confirmations to a user's calendar, a smarter address book, and more.