Hotmail requires phone number

"Years of examination and analysis of the issues caused by our customers not being able to recover their accounts coupled with the modern danger of compromised accounts left us with no choice but to strengthen the security on our user's accounts.  
A secret question/secret answer is just not enough.

By adding these proofs you ensure yourself of the following:
    You can quickly and efficiently regain access to your account should you forget your password.
    If your account is compromised and the hacker changes your information, you are instantly informed and with the click of a mouse can undo anything that he has done.
    Your Account Reset Information (SMS, Alt-Email) cannot be changed by a hacker without you confirming the change.

We understand the reluctance to provide this type of information, however when it comes to account security and recovery, this is the best way we have to keep your account safe, and at some point in the future you will not be able to skip the prompt for security information.

If you have no password reset information on your account and you forget your password or your account is compromised by an attacker, you would have no way to send yourself a password reset code.  
Because we take your account security very seriously, we will not turn an account over to anyone without proof of ownership and if you are unable to validate you own the account, you are at risk of permanently losing your account and everything you use it for."

What if I don't own a cell phone?

You see the only one I have access to is my work phone.  I cannot give that as my cell phone to you because it technically is the companies.  And I do not have another.

I think this is wealth-discrimination.  Poor people can no longer use your services?

Poor people can no longer use your services?

I do not represent, work for, or speak for Microsoft

This is a peer to peer site staffed most by volunteers who have little or no contact with Microsoft.

I can just impart current conditions.

...caused by our customers... left us with no... on our user's account...
We understand ...

You understand my confusion when you use such language don't you?  You certainly speak as if you represent, work and speak for microsoft.

I find your entries here not helpful.

Good luck & safe web surfing!

Can anyone help me here?  What will happen to my account after 6 days? 

Am I to understand that I need to purchase a cell phone to continue using my account, which I have used problem free for many years?

Is there a better place to post this?  I understood that this is the support center for my account.

I tracked down a MS rep and they assured me that my account is not dependant on having a cell phone.

Apparently I never provided an alternate email address to be used for account security purposes, and with that I will not get these phone number requests.

I am getting that message for a phone number..  They can kiss my ....................

The paragraph you are referring to is a quote. Probably from the knowledge base or something. It was not originally written by the person trying to assist you.

With all due respect, I find it odd that you are alleging wealth discrimination against a company that is providing a FREE email service to you.

Can anyone help me here?  What will happen to my account after 6 days? 

Am I to understand that I need to purchase a cell phone to continue using my account, which I have used problem free for many years?

Is there a better place to post this?  I understood that this is the support center for my account.

you do not have to give a phone number. you can use another email.

[I know,..  if you had another email, why would you use hotmail?]

I think this should be left up to the account user.  if we wanted to make our account more secure, we would agree.  if we did not, the onus is on us when we "forget" or "whatever" our account password.

loathe the though of willfully giving anyone more information.

easy solve: get a yahoo/gmail account and use it just for this instance.  or perhaps swap over because they don't ask for this info,.. and if/when they ever do, you'll have an old hotmail account to use. '-)