Web-based Email Options

For travellers, or the sporadically employed, here's a comparison chart of Web-based email providers for the continuity of your e-address. The chart includes costs, storage limits, browsers supported, filters and other features.

Making choices between technology tools is often easier when you can compare the features to choose what will serve you and your situation best.

If you are always using the same computer on the same desk at the same address, your needs are different from those who use internet cafes and need everything left online. See POP or IMAP

Portability
Also, when you change jobs, do you lose all your contacts and lose track of people because your email changes? Many people now have at least two e-addresses, one for work and a personal one. The chart shows you which services are free, making it easy to have an additional account, or two.

An Extra Account
Some people even keep a third free account for use when registration of a new product or access to a new service requires you to give an e-address. The extra email account can then receive all the unwanted spam or advertisements an notices while your everyday account stays less cluttered.

POP or IMAP
With IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) you read your mail while it is still on the mail server. Because your mail remains on the server, you can access it from any IMAP-configured computer with internet access. Whether you are at work, at home, or traveling around the world, all of your messages are available to you.

POP (Post Office Protocol), on the other hand, is designed to handle offline operations. POP downloads e-mail to the computer, generally removing it from the central server. After messages are moved onto the desktop of the current local computer and deleted from the server, you then manipulate them on your desktop. Therefore, POP e-mail is only available on that specific desktop computer.

Synchronization
Syncing those accounts becomes another factor to manage well, especially if you have a smartphone, iPad, netbook, laptop or other device that allows you to access and manage your email. The syncing options are many depending on your devices, and are usually user friendly.

Google, Yahoo, Mac's MobileMe all offer enticing features that might include backing up files, keeping calendars and documents online and possibly becoming your organisational HQ allowing the collaboration and contributions of family and friends.

Use technology to serve you, not enslave you.

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