Outlook 2010 is currently in Beta, and from what I’ve seen looks pretty slick.  But there’s one problem.  A BIG problem.  Microsoft has decided to abandon Web standards when it comes to rendering HTML in e-mail programs – causing an uproar from those of us involved in e-mail marketing.  They have confirmed that they plan on using the Word rendering engine to display HTML emails in Outlook 2010.  Sure, it sounds like a good idea – except that Word sucks when it comes to rendering HTML.

What does this mean?

It means that HTML e-mail designs (you know, all the emails you get with pretty graphics in them) will now need to use tables for their layout (tables? What is this 1999?), they will have no support for CSS, including the ability to use background images, and tons more.  Read all about it here: http://www.email-standards.org/blog/entry/microsoft-to-ignore-web-standards/

Basically, for people like me that manage e-mail campaigns (like the Daily IQ), we will now need to build two e-mails to send to our subscribers: one built for Outlook 2010 users which will feature less functionality and visual design, and another email for everyone else.  We’ll also have to use an e-mail platform that will support the ability to detect the user’s e-mail software and deliver the appropriate format.

What can I do to help?

Use the power of Social Media to send a strong message to Microsoft that Web Standards are there for a reason and that this change is not a good one.  Outlook 2010 is still in beta, meaning Microsoft is gather feedback from their users on it and still has time to make changes before the final release.

Head over to http://fixoutlook.org/ and do your part to use Twitter and other Social Networks to tell Microsoft how you feel about this.

By the way, the folks that built FixOutlook.or are geniuses – that’s the coolest site I’ve seen in awhile.