Tag Archives: webmail

Bigpond webmail is now Microsoft Live Mail

Computer Aid Posted on by

Another confusing day for customers of Bigpond internet services.

This time, it seems that Bigpond have decided that providing webmail services for customers is just too hard (or too expensive), and they seem to be re-directing new customers to using Microsoft Live Mail for online access to their email accounts.

Obviously I can see whats happened here:

Bigpond are paying Microsoft to transparently hold bigpond webmail, and to use a branded version of the Live Mail front end.

Its probably cheaper for Bigpond to farm out this service, than to continue to provide it in-house… particularly when it comes to software updates.

But this is an area where tech-naive customers (ie many of them) are already finding it difficult to understand whats happening with webmail… so the sudden flip from bigpond to live mail will make them even more confused.

Which is exactly how I discovered it…

I was showing someone (with a new bigpond account) how to check webmail for large attachments, and I found myself on Live Mail.

I thought I had clicked the “wrong” button, so I went back and tried again, and this time I saw that they are actually telling you that you will be redirected to live mail.

Get set for more confused customers!

The risk of using bigpond webmail within outlook (0X80070057)

Computer Aid Posted on by

Customer was using outlook (NOT outlook express), as his email client.

I’ve not yet seen outlook configured to download from a webmail account before.

The account information seems simple enough, but every time outlook goes to download emails, it throws up the error: 0x80070057

The net doesn’t have any answers, so I decide to try the webmail directly vie ie7.

Thats when the bigpond login repies with: incorrect email or password.

OK, looks like a wrong password. But the password within the modem is correct (as we can still get to the internet).

Oh well, a password reset should fix it.

Once contacting bigpond support, we find out that the broadband was setup by my curtomers son (who is overseas, and unreachable)… and only his son is allowed to do stuff like request a password reset.

Nevertheless, the tech support lady is helpful. She explains that bigpond webmail will lock the email account if it receives more than 3 failed password attempts.

Now that explains why the internet still works, while the email doesn’t.

I try setting up a pop account within outlook, but doesn’t work either.

Looks like the customer doesn’t have any choice, but to wait for his son to get back in touch with him!