Like many of you, I have used a number of email systems over the years. Does anyone remember Telecom Gold or Easylink? Worse than the stress of signing-up for broadband is the nightmare of "broadband migration" and one of the key factors preventing anyone leaving their existing internet service provider (ISP) is the need to retain their email address. I'm sure Mr Murdoch would like us to be Sky BB customers for many years but the fact is we don't yet know how much we can depend upon Sky BB email for reliable communication with our family or business associates.
WEBMAIL
Webmail services are usually designed with easy of use and low maintenance in mind. You can access your webmail account from just about anywhere with internet, e.g. office, library, cybercafé, etc (although there are some privacy and security issues). Most offer only basic services but some do stand out and offer a good service.
(a)
Yahoo! Mail offers both free and paid-for mail services. Yahoo! Mail is childsplay to use. Free accounts get a respectable 1 GB storage and attachment size is limited to 10Mb per email. Yahoo does a fair job at filtering spam from your inbox. Your Yahoo! ID will give you access to Yahoo's other online services which as calendar, briefcase, My Yahoo, etc.
Pros: free, easy to use
Cons: sometimes a little slow, POP3 needs upgrade to paid-for service
Goto: http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
(b)
Gmail or
Google Mail has really stirred up the free webmail market and continues to innovate. Online storage is currently 2.76Gb and is likely to continue to grow. Attachment size is limited to 10Mb per email. Google's anti-spam filters are very effective. It has a huge community following with dozens of sites offering tips, hacks, browser plug-ins, etc. Google Mail is one of the few webmail services that can be used as a productivity tool and has features to match.
Pros: Huge online storage. Free.
Cons: The concept of "tags" may take some getting used to
Goto: http://www.gmail.com
(c)
Goowy is a relative newcomer and uses Web 2.0 technology. The designers have balanced ease-of-use with a good set of communication and collaboration tools. This free service gives 1 GB email storage and 2 GB file storage. Attachment size is limited to 10Mb per email. Other features include address book, calendar, rss, mini's (widgets) and IM. Goowy's anti-spam features are good however it does not currently filter polled email accounts. Goowy has proven itself to be a reliable service. Unlike more saturated services (e.g. Hotmail) you are more likely to find your preferred username/email available here.
Pros: Free. Online storage for emails and files
Cons: No POP3 access
Goto: http://www.goowy.com
DESKTOP EMAIL
Desktop email usually means access to a SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 mail server host using an email application such as MS Outlook/Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird, Entourage, KDE Kontact, etc. In general, desktop email clients offer much more powerful features than webmail services and often integrate with other applications, e.g. MS Outlook and MS Office. If you are going to be serious about desktop email then you need to take full control.
To establish a long term solution for your desktop email requirements you need to:-
1) Take ownership of an internet domain name
2) Find a suitable email hosting service
Thankfully, this is quick, easy and very cheap to achieve.
1) Your Own Private Idaho
It's important that you own your own domain name so that you can control how it is used and to guarantee its existence independently of which ISP you are actually using now or at any time in the future. If you leave or change ISP's then your mailbox will live on regardless. Although there are thousands of Domain Name Registrars from whom you can buy your domain name I would recommend you stick to a UK (or EU) Registrar and only buy domains ending .uk for privacy and security reasons. Currently, my preferred Registrar is
http://www.123reg.co.uk although I can also recommend
http://www.ukreg.co.uk. Domain names can cost less than £5/yr.
Take time to pick your domain name carefully. Beware of "fashion" or "vanity" names. You need to look good with your domain name over many years. Remember, the classic tuxedo or "little black dress" will always stand the test of time. Do you still have that shell-suit? Will you use the domain name for family or business emails? Or both? If you are stuck for name ideas, try the Name Machine for inspiration. Provided you maintain payment of your registration fees, the key fact here is that you own the domain name (not your ISP). It's rather like taking your mobile number with you when you change to a new network.
2) Email Hosting
The cost of hosted email services has dropped dramatically in the last 12-18 months. However, remember "cheap" often means "nasty", too. What you need is value-for-money from a reliable .
(a)
1&1 have been around for many years and have built up an excellent reputation for professional hosted services. You may already know them for their web hosting services but 1 and 1 also offer stand-alone Mail services. The comprehensive Webmail/SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 Mail service offers 5 x 1 GB mailboxes with both spam and virus filtering for around 81p per month! Total email size (message+attachments) is limited to 10Mb via SMTP/POP3/IMPA4 and 2Mb via webmail interface. That should be enough for most families.
Pros: Comprehensive service
Cons: Average attachment limit
Goto:
http://www.1and1.co.uk
(b)
4smartphone specialises in hosted email services for mobile devices but, in fact, it's a fully fledged hosted MS Exchange service with both Outlook Web Access (OWA)(a powerful webmail-type interface) and MS Windows Mobile Push Email (used on PocketPC's). The service is ideal for anyone who needs access to email whilst on the move and so will suit professional users, too. Hosted MS Exchange services release the full power of MS Outlook 2003 onwards (in fact, 4smartphone give you one copy free) and is definitely the solution for heavy or serious email users. Spam and virus filtering is included. I recommend the "Professional" service plan at $6.99/month with gives a 1 Gb mailbox and attachment limit of 10Mb per email.
Pros: Email on the move, powerful hosted MS Exchange service
Cons: Suitable only for MS Windows / MS Windows Mobile users
Goto: http://www.4smartphone.net
I am aware that some of the solutions I’ve outlined above may seem quite complicated. Don’t be daunted. If you want any further help or advice please drop me a PM or an email.
Martin
martin@skyuser.co.uk
