The free version of Hotmail uses a proprietary protocol instead of the
standard POP3 protocol that everybody else uses. Only Outlook (on a Windows
PC or smartphone) knows how to talk with the free hotmail. So you won't be
able to check your hotmail emails using the built-in email clients.

Your solutions are:

- Try to find one of these Java email applications that can talk to
hotmail. I had seen one or two a while ago. I don't know if they're still
around and supported on your blackberry. Even if they are, it's likely that
they'll have a pretty poor UI anyway.

- Subscribe to the premium version of hotmail. I think that you'll get POP3
access then but that means you'll have to pay every month for your email
account.

- Create an email account with an email provider that provides POP3 access
for free and redirect all your hotmail email to this other email account.
Actually, I not even sure if the free hotmail allows you to redirect emails
automatically so that might not even work

- Last but not least: scrap hotmail and open an account with a decent email
provider that gives you free POP3 access (yahoo works very well but i'm not
sure if they're free anymore. GMail works too but causes troubles on some
handsets)

Experienced Blackberry users might have other solutions.

I've currently got Hotmail Plus (it's the £14.99 yearly subscription +
2 GB inbox) running through both Outlook Express and my Blackberry (on
Vodafone Blackberry Internet Solution). The hotmail account provisioned
itself successfully (almost automatically) after entering the email
address and password without too much fuss over POP3 settings and the
like. Works great.

I've also used Opera Mini browser (not a Vodafone product) to view
Hotmail on my W900i. It involves bookmarking the Hotmail URL, turning
off the images function (otherwise you get hit with heavy jpeg
downloads - 'Tools' > 'Settings' > then un-tick 'Load Images'). The
average page refresh for me is rarely over 10KB so the cost isn't too
great, just don't go viewing hige emails with pictures and attachments.
If you've got a Blackberry though and really want Hotmail I'd recommend
taking out the Hotmail Plus subscription (£14.99 a year is no great
expense)

There are third party applications such as IzyMail, which translate the
basic Hotmail email protocal to allow it to function on various email
clients including mobiles. Again though it's a third party software and
you'd need to review any problems / questions with their own customer
services if you want to use it, rather than Blackberry, Vodafone etc.
http://v3.izymail.com/