Outlook.com reels in over a million users mere hours after launch

That was fast: in the scant few hours since Microsoft unveiled its Metro-style take on email, one million people have signed up for an account with Outlook.com. The service (which will ultimately replace Hotmail) features a revamped user interface that borrows heavily from Windows 8, direct integration with Facebook and Twitter and Skype conferencing —delivering a clear shot across the bow for Google and Gmail. It’s unclear whether this momentum will hold, or if the high level of interest is merely a surge of folks trying to get in on the ground floor (and secure a decipherable email address). That said, over a million users in mere hours bodes well for the fledgling email platform.