Web-based email or webmail is a term referring to an e-mail service intended to be primarily accessed via a web browser, as opposed to through an email client, such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla's Thunderbird, or Apple's Mail.One of the earliest Webmail services was Hotmail. Other very popular webmail providers include mail.com, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail and AOL.[1] See also Comparison of webmail providers.
A major advantage of web-based email over application-based email is that a user has the ability to access their inbox from any Internet-connected computer around the world. However, the need for Internet access is also a drawback, in that one cannot access their old messages when they are not connected to the Internet.
In 1997, prior to its acquisition by Microsoft, Hotmail introduced its service, which became one of the first popular web-based email offerings. Following Hotmail's initial success, Google's introduction of Gmail in 2004 sparked a period of rapid development in webmail, due to Gmail's new features such as JavaScript menus, text-based ads, and bigger storage.
In May 2006 Yahoo! released the New Yahoo! Mail, fully Ajax based. Yahoo! Mail is considered by some to have the most powerful interface of all webmail services. Yahoo! is the first provider to offer unlimited storage and also includes drag and drop capabilities, mail search, color personalization. In 2007, Yahoo! integrated messenger into Yahoo! Mail so people can now chat discreetly in Yahoo! mail with Yahoo! and Windows Live messenger contacts. Heavy users receive particular experience with bigger attachments capabilities and live chat support with customer agents. This product is not replacing the old version, Yahoo! Mail Classic. The users have the ability to choose between the two interfaces. According to Comscore, Yahoo! Mail is the most popular web-based e-mail service in the world.
Software packages
There are also software packages that allow an organization such as company to offer email through the web for their associates. Some solutions are open source software like SquirrelMail and RoundCube and others are closed source like the Outlook Web Access module for Microsoft Exchange, Socketmail, Atmail and phlyMail.
Conversely, there are programs that can simulate a web browser to access webmail as if it were stored in a POP3 or IMAP account. They are susceptible, though, to changes in the user interface of the web service since there is no standard interface.
Rendering and compatibility
There are important differences in rendering capabilities for many popular webmail services such as Yahoo Mail, Gmail, and Windows Live Hotmail. Due to the various treatment of HTML tags, such as <style> and <head>, as well as CSS rendering inconsistencies, email marketing companies rely on older web development techniques to send cross-platform mail. This usually means a heavy reliance on tables and inline stylesheets.
See also
References
- ^ Brownlow, Mark "Email and webmail statistics", Email Marketing Reports, February, 2008
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