Webmail - Choosing the Best Web Based Email Service

There are two major types of email platforms. Primarily there's the assigned computer program, set to manage incoming and outgoing emails of a certain computer. Known email clients such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird generally occur in job environments. Then there's the webmail, an email client based in the web browser. Most people recognize webmail services by its brand name, such as Hotmail or Gmail. With over 200 million users, Hotmail was the first web based email launched in 1997 to become world known and vastly popular. Together with Gmail and Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail (Windows Live Hotmail) has over 500 million users world wide. Hence the broadest target group compared to the MUA's (Mail User Agents).

Webmail software on you own server

If you have an own web server you can also offer your users webmail. Many universities offer their students web based email access using open source webmail software like SquirrelMail and RoundCube. This enables access to the server email through the web browser.

Pros
  • Mobility. Since all data is saved on a web-server you can access your email no matter where you are as long as you have an Internet connection.
  • Self Upgrading. You are not bothered by upgrades or security checks. The Web client is regularly updated by an assigned administrator.

Cons
  • Online dependant. Webmail usage requires an Internet connection at all times.
  • Limited storage space. You only get a certain amount of space on the webmail server.
  • Heavier files. When an email normally weighs around 3kb it can easily increase to 40kb on a web based email client since email are implemented in the html. This can result in decreasing client speed.

Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Windows Live Hotmail?

Hotmail held the first position as web based email client for a long time and still has over 200 million users but has slipped down to second place under Yahoo! Mail going on 250 million users and Gmail in third with about 50 million. Note that this says nothing about the quality of the different webmail clients! The newest addition to the top web clients, Gmail, has the most storage space with over 2.6 Gb and counting. Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail have the easy navigational interface while Gmail takes some getting used to.

In the long run Gmail is definitely the most favorable web based email client with both email tagging options and POP in and POP out possibilities. This means that you can access Gmail from your computer email program and access other email accounts from Gmail. If you're looking for a dynamic and innovative webmail, Gmail should be your pick. For the more traditionally accustomed emailer Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail will be just fine!