Question on email setup with Messenger 7.0

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger (More info?)

I use a local ISP connecting to the Internet and have a POP3 email address
thru them. If I use this email address as my address in Messenger 7.0
instead of my hotmail address, will I now be able to use it for alerts etc
and all of the other functions that Messenger 7.0 offers or will I still
have to connect using a hotmail address if I want all the features active?

I tried using my POP3 email address in Messenger 6.2 and kept getting a
message that it was an unacceptable email address. Does Messenger 7.0
handle this differently now?

I am currently using my hotmail address, but I would rather use my POP3
email address for everything so I don't have to worry about my free hotmail
account expiring, if it will work with all of Messenger's features.