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The Internet Mail Explosion: How Hotmail and RocketMail Started the Trend in 1996
In 1996, Internet mail services began to enter the public eye, especially the two key players-Hotmail and RocketMail. With their free and easy-to-access features, they quickly became the most popular mail services on the Internet. With the development of technology, the convenience and popularity of online mail have changed the way people communicate. These two platforms not only provide an instant and consolidated communication experience, but also invisibly promote the entire online email revolution.
The emergence of Internet mail allows people to send and receive mail through the browser anytime and anywhere, completely changing the previous situation of relying on desktop mail clients.
Early implementation and development
In fact, in 1993, Phillip Hallam-Baker of CERN first developed the implementation of Web Mail, but it did not develop further. In the following years, many applications began to emerge, such as the WebMail application developed in 1995 by Søren Vejrum, Luca Manunza, and Remy Wetzels. Matt Mankins of the United States also developed the Webex mail system in the same year, and Bill Fitler of Lotus demonstrated the webmail function he developed in Lotusphere.
The development of Webex paved the way for future commercialization, which shows the commercial potential of Internet mail.
The rise of Hotmail and RocketMail
In 1996, Hotmail and RocketMail were launched successively and quickly attracted a large number of users. These two services appear in a free model, allowing many users who are unwilling to pay to enjoy the convenience of Internet mail. Hotmail created a modern user interface that mimicked Desktop Email, and RocketMail was praised for its intuitive operation. The simple and easy-to-use design and functions have quickly made these services the choice of users of all ages.
Hotmail's success proved that email services could not rely on expensive software clients and made it easy for users to create their own email accounts.
Popularization of Internet Mail
In the late 1990s and into the new millennium, more and more ISPs and web hosting providers began to include webmail services as part of their packages. This leads to more frequent public contact. Whether it is a university, a company, or an ordinary home, it seems that Internet mail can be found everywhere. Users no longer need to rely on desktop applications as webmail provides more flexible access.
Privacy and security considerations
However, with the popularity of Internet mail, privacy issues have begun to cause concern. In particular, some service providers automatically analyze user emails to facilitate targeted advertising. Gmail and Yahoo! Mail both provide users with the ability to opt out, but in a public Wi-Fi environment, links that do not use HTTPS may still be eavesdropped by third parties. Because of this, both Gmail and Yahoo! Mail have begun to enforce HTTPS in recent years to enhance user security.
Is your privacy really protected when you press the Send button?
Future development trends
With the popularity of social media and instant messaging applications, the role of online mail seems to be challenged. Despite this, online email is still an indispensable tool for business communication, and future development may focus on integration with other communication platforms to enhance user experience. Being able to better adapt to the changing technological environment is key to the continued success of webmail.
24 years ago today, the innovations of Hotmail and RocketMail ushered in a new era of email services. So are we ready for the next change today?
