If you haven't already signed up for Outlook.com Premium then you're out of luck. This is because Microsoft is killing the premium version of Outlook.com, and transferring most of its features to Office 365 instead. Existing subscribers are fine for now, but new subscribers are not welcome.

Microsoft began trialling Outlook.com Premium in February 2016, launching the beta in April 2016. In October 2016, it went live in public preview, and in February 2017 Outlook.com Premium became available to everyone. And now it's becoming unavailable to anyone but existing subscribers.

Outlook.com Premium Is Closed to New Subscribers

As its name suggests, Outlook.com Premium is/was a premium version of Outlook.com. For $50/year, Outlook.com Premium subscribers would get an ad-free inbox, advanced sharing options, tougher security measures, increased support, and custom domains. It was a good option for email junkies.

The good news is most Outlook.com Premium features are being added to Office 365. This includes the "ad-free inbox, enhanced protection against malware and phishing, larger mailbox sizes, and premium customer support." The bad news is Microsoft is killing Outlook.com Premium as a result.

As noticed by Paul Thurrott, the culling of Outlook.com Premium is hidden in a support document stating, "The Outlook.com Premium standalone offering is now closed to new subscribers. Current subscribers can renew their subscriptions to continue receiving subscription benefits."

It remains to be seen how long Microsoft will let existing subscribers renew their subscriptions. In another support document Microsoft states that it's "working on a solution that will enable you to transfer your domain to other providers,” which strongly suggests it's seeking a permanent way out.

Microsoft Makes Office 365 Better Value for Money

It's rare for Microsoft to cull a service after such a short space of time. Which suggests that the numbers didn't add up. Therefore it makes more sense to roll these premium features into Office 365 to make that a more attractive proposition. And at $70/year it is pretty good value for money.

Do you currently have an Outlook.com Premium subscription? How do you feel about most of its features being transferred to Office 365? Are you likely to keep your Outlook.com Premium subscription? Or switch to Office 365? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Dennis Skley via Flickr