UWS completes Microsoft email migration

Students at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) can now activate their Microsoft Live@edu hosted email services following a successful implementation of the new system yesterday.

The university took the public holiday Monday and part of Tuesday to implement the new hosted email system.

"UWS went live several hours ago with MyMail — student email hosted at Live@EDU. Looking good so far," UWS IT director Mick Houlahan tweeted yesterday.

After activating their MyMail account, each of UWS's 40,000 students will receive 10GB worth of email storage hosted by Microsoft. The university said it took feedback from students and other universities on the best cloud-based email system to use and evaluated alternative options such as Google before deciding to go with Microsoft's Live@edu.

"Microsoft was chosen due to this company's ability to meet all UWS requirements, the ease of implementation and its compatibility with existing UWS systems," the email FAQ stated.

UWS is running a competition to drive early uptake of the new email system, offering students the chance to win an Xbox 360 Slim if they sign up before 8 October. Students who haven't activated their MyMail accounts by 31 October will have an encumbrance applied to their student record until they activate their account.

A number of other universities such as Curtin, Edith Cowan and the Australian Catholic University have also previously implemented Microsoft's Live@edu hosted email system.