It's the rare webmail inbox that isn't overloaded with unwanted crud -- hundreds of messages of questionable origin, dating back to somewhere around the turn of the century. This is particularly true of those secondary accounts that many of us use to register for online services that we don't trust with our main email addresses.

Good thing no one ever uses Hotmail for that, huh?

OK, in all seriousness, Microsoft is aiming to help Windows Live Hotmail users dig out of this mess. An overhaul of the venerable email service, due out this summer, comes with a series of new features aimed at addressing the problem of inbox overload.

Probably the most notable new feature along these lines is called "Sweep." It will let Hotmail users quickly clean out their inboxes by moving or deleting batches of messages that meet criteria they select -- such as repeated emails from certain people or companies that they have no particular interest in hearing from.

Gee, which people or companies could possibly fit that description? (Yes, for the record, that is an actual screenshot of my own Hotmail inbox.)

At any rate, in the process of "sweeping," Hotmail users will also be able to easily set up automated rules for routing or trashing similar messages in the future -- not a huge innovation, in terms of functionality, but something that not a lot of users take the time to do on their own. (See screenshot below.)

"We really think it helps you take back control of your inbox," said Dick Craddock, a Windows Live Hotmail group program manager.

Along the same lines, users will be able to select preset tabs at the top of the inbox to see messages only from their contacts, "Social updates" emails from services such as Facebook and Twitter, unread messages, and all other messages. Hotmail is also adding a conversation view similar to features in PC-based email clients. In addition, a new "Hotmail Highlights" summary at login will let users know if they have important messages in different categories, such as social networking updates, appointments or emails from friends.

Microsoft is releasing details of the new Hotmail tonight, in advance of the rollout this summer. It's part of what's known inside the company as Windows Live Wave 4, a broad update to Microsoft's online services.

Other new Hotmail features include direct connections to the new Microsoft Office Web Apps, and the ability to automatically create photo galleries from inside Hotmail, sending a link to those galleries rather than blindsiding unsuspecting recipients with large attachments.

Among other additions, Microsoft has revamped the mobile version of Hotmail for smartphones and touch screens. The company is also touting new advances in its spam protections, including improvements in the company's SmartScreen technology, and a "Trusted Senders" feature that will put a special icon next to messages from sources known by the Hotmail service to be legitimate.

By the way, on the subject of spam, Microsoft says it's still aiming to restore the vacation replies feature that it removed from Hotmail because of abuse by spammers, although it doesn't yet have a specific date.

Hotmail's new clutter-fighting 'Sweep' feature. (Click for larger image.)