Only a few days ago Microsoft announced a new email service: Outlook.com — the long-expected successor to Hotmail. And before users even had time to test all its new features — here it is, ready for testing inside GetResponse Inbox Preview.  Now you can verify how your message renders when delivered to those millions of users who already upgraded from Hotmail to Outlook.com.

How it works

After building your email in Email Creator, just click the Test Message button and select Inbox Preview. Within a minute or two, you see exactly how your email designs look inside Outlook.com (Internet Explorer).

The Outlook.com preview appears alongside those already available in Inbox Preview: Yahoo, Gmail, Opera Mail, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc.

Note: For those who feel sentimental because hotmail.com was your first email address, don’t worry — Microsoft is keeping Hotmail, and we’re keeping it in Inbox Preview, too.

What to watch out for

In Outlook.com, emails render much the same as in Hotmail. And if you use any of GetResponse’s 350⁺ newsletter templates, rest assured they render correctly in all popular email programs — both Web-based and desktop.

If you upload your own HTML templates, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. Be sure to include CSS rules that specify your desired outcome; otherwise Outlook.com might replace some elements, such as fonts, with Microsoft defaults.

Try it now

If you haven’t tried Inbox Preview, it’s available with the click of a button inside Email Creator.

If you haven’t tried GetResponse yet, grab a GetResponse 30-Day Free Trial account here — no credit card required.

And if you want to take a closer look at Outlook.com, take a slideshow tour on Mashable.

We love the neat new design and instant connection to social media; but we’re curious — what do you think? Hot or not? Tell us in the comments!