Microsoft users face access issues with Hotmail, Outlook, SkyDrive services

Microsoft users on Tuesday ( March 12) faced problems accessing their accounts as the company experienced disruptions for several hours to its online suite of mail, calendar and storage services.

The IT giant posted a series of status updates for its Outlook and Hotmail services showing the issues in its online email were unresolved nearly four hours after they were first flagged.

"We're having a problem accessing email. You might not be able to see all your email messages. We're working to restore service right now," the company posted.

The company also reported issues with its calendar service, the same day, due to 'performing maintenance'. The problem was solved eight hours later when the company said, "The problem has been fixed." Its SkyDrive online storage service too reported three hours of problems related to "adding, editing or removing files."

Users took to Twitter to vent their frustrations. "I thought I was getting any mail, then realized Outlook was dead," posted one user.

The company said last month that after a six-month 'Preview' period it would take the service mainstream and begin migrating its Hotmail users over, with everyone moved by summer of this year.

Outlook.com, the company's refurbished online email service, is a major effort by Microsoft to rejuvenate its popular but aging Hotmail property, with a clean, slick interface and integration with social networks like Facebook and Twitter.