Spam has been such a problem that email filters are now widespread on the Net. These filters are a necessary response to the menace of spam. However, will the excuse of spam be used by companies such as Hotmail to charge for email? Disturbing news that Hotmail (owned by Microsoft) is blocking perfectly legitimate emails because they have been caught by their anti-spam filters is increasing these fears. Allan Gardyne of Associateprograms.com has been commenting recently about the difficulties SiteSell (owner of the website building package SiteBuildIt) has had with Hotmail. http://associateprograms.com/discus/viewtopic.php?t=2847 When SiteSell complained to Hotmail they did not get a helpful response. Microsoft suggested that they use the services of a company called Bonded Sender which would ensure that SiteSells legitimate non-spam emails would reach their customers. It just happens that one of the owners of Bonded Sender is a former employee of Microsoft! Many other companies have had similar problems with Hotmail. Bill Gates is on record as wishing to charge for email as a method of preventing spam. Unfortunately, when the big companies on the Net gang up like this, a sort of inevitability about charging for email creeps in. Nearly 60% of email is handled by Hotmail, AOL, and Yahoo combined. These three companies could have the power to force customers to pay for their email. However, customers still have bargaining power. They may decide to stop using Hotmail and opt for a genuine free service. The founding fathers of the Internet had a public service attitude to the free dissemination of information. If the big companies charge for email, this egalitarian ideal will be lost. The most appealing aspect of the Internet for many people was precisely this level-playing field that it created. The hobbyist in any part of the world could communicate and pass information (through email!) to other enthusiasts. The small entrepreneur could set up a website and make money without reference to the multinationals. However, this freedom will be lost if customers are not vigilant. The big companies like Microsoft are businesses concerned with profit. The freedom of access that the Internet gives to the small person in any part of the world is not a priority of the multinationals. John Lynch |
