[mgc1122]

So? Most of us are conservatives that understand the underlying message ... no such thing as a free lunch. If the market deems "free email" sticks around, it will.

[Lazamataz]

Ping for heavy Yahoo email use.

[randog]

I've got a friend that runs his own web-hosting service. He provides free e-mail accounts to his friends and family and I have taken him up on the offer.

[Arkinsaw]

Based on the experience of AuctionWatch charging I would say that there are fools out there who will pay for anything no matter what it is.

I won't though.

[TomGuy]

In the latter 1990's many various types of internet/web concerns tried to use ads to pay for their services. This concept is similar to TV. Let ads pay for the content. However, for some reason, net advertising failed. Many net services in the early 2000's went under. Now, they are trying fee based services. Some of the more popular ones will succeed. Many of the content and information sites, which don't have a wide supporter base, will disappear. Net use we become increasingly more expensive: $20 per month ISP, add subscription for this and that and other things--ranging from $1 per month to $20 per month.

Many sites, like FR, will try donations. Again, some will get enough donation support to continue, but many will not.

It will become a weeding out.

[Voltage]

I believe that most users get e-mail as a part of their IP service. Where other e-mail services are used its likely because there is some benefit to the user, and since so far it has been free the benefit it provides can be very small.

If they are going to charge, then they are going to have to provide real benefits.

One benefit I would be willing to pay for would be 99% effective spam blocking, since now about 50% of my e-mail is spam.

[strela]

I use Yahoo email primarily as a launching point for spam complaints and to have a replyable address for web site submissions. If they start charging for it (which they have the perfect right to do; free enterprise and all that), then its sayonara to Yahoo for me.

[1Old Pro]

i BELIEVE i AM PAYING FOR E-MAIL, IT'S PART OF MY MONTHLY isp FEE.

[Logic_3]

Hotmail is already worthless because off all the spam.....let it die in peace.

Its like the dinosaurs...

The future is our age Morpheus,.. The future is our time... /matrix

The future is Freerepublic's age Morpheus,.. The future is Freerepublic's time... /i_wish