outlook.com as IMAP client

Hi,

outlook.com has an option to synchronize via IMAP protocol with 'external' e-mail source. However it looks like it is just a one-time import of the folder structure and content (e-mail messages). Later only messages are imported in unpredictable intervals. This is what we are encountering with our accounts from external e-mail server services providers. 

So, this is not the same or similar to what you can do with classic IMAP clients like MS Outlook for Windows and MS Outlook for Mac?

Thanks,

Maciej