You will still be able to use Hotmail for free, but the words 'lose access'
are partly correct. Right now, Outlook, and Outlook Express will access
Hotmail's HTTP mail (web mail) without using the IE browser to go to
Hotmail's website. Downloading the mail with an email reader will end in
April. You will have to log onto the website to read your (free) mail. A
subscription service will still allow that, in the future.