According to Microsoft "Microsoft commits that students will NOT see third party ads in the user interface of the email service. Additionally, third party ads will be turned off automatically for all Windows Live Services except Windows Live Messenger.

However, Microsoft does reserve the right to display information about Microsoft products and services with recognition of the need to do so in a manner that is tasteful and not overbearing. For example, Live@edu “tips and tricks” may be shown to enhance usage of Windows Live services.

Alumni, applicants/trial users and other non-student users of Live@edu will see banner advertisements for third-party products. Microsoft will ensure that third-party advertisements are family-safe and follow their creative acceptance policy (http://advertising.microsoft.com/creative-acceptance-policy).

Additionally: Microsoft does not scan e-mail content for targeting ads, allow behavioral targeting of advertisements, or attach commercial taglines to the bottom of e-mails."