Microsoft is preparing to test the new interface for Hotmail. Faster, simpler and safer are its new keywords.

Hotmail users that want to test the new interface can subscribe here for the mail beta test.

The new interface which is an AJAX-based interface, was built using Microsoft’s latest tools – Atlas framework and a new architecture known as FireAnt.

Imran Qureshi, program manager for the beta mail, explains how things are: “Some would call it a blank slate I guess. When we asked customers what they wanted the main theme was clear: Make it faster, make it simpler and make it safer. It couldn’t have been clearer.”

An upgrade was necessary to compete with Gmail, not to mention that Yahoo is working on a new interface, and because the old Hotmail became pretty slow lately and not so attractive.