Imagine trying to work without email. It is hard to picture. That convenience explains why millions flock to free web-based services. AOL, Prodigy, and CompuServe started the trend. But Yahoo Mail changed the game. Launched in 1997, it grew to claim an estimated 250 million users globally [sources: Computerworld and Search Engine Journal].
We use these services constantly. A March 2007 survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project revealed that 71 percent of U.S. adults were online. Of those, 91 percent sent or read email. Half used it daily. The volume was staggering. IDC estimated that nearly 97 billion emails were sent worldwide in 2007 alone.
Beyond Basic Messaging
Check Yahoo Mail and you will find more than just send and receive buttons. It supports 21 languages. You get unlimited storage. Search tools help you dig through the noise. Contact lists organize your network. Personalization lets you tweak the look. Spam blockers and virus scanning keep threats out.
The 2007 Upgrade
Launched in August 2007, the new version offered choice. Users could switch between email, chat, and text messaging. Keyboard shortcuts sped up navigation. RSS feeds gave direct access to changing web content. Mobile access worked from smartphones and PDAs with internet connections.
This article breaks down these features. We will look at how to use them. First, let’s see how easy it is to set up a Yahoo Mail account.