What Are the Advantages of Using Email for Communications?

Smartphones allow users to send and receive emails directly from their phone.

Since the birth of modern email in the early 1970's, the technology has continuously grown in popularity in comparison to other communications technologies like fax machines, telephones and old-fashioned pen and paper. Even with the invention of cell phones and text messaging, Email has remained popular due to its convenience and its ability to easily convey many different types of information in a single message.

Delivery

Perhaps the greatest advantage of email over postal mail is the instantaneous nature of the technology. Recipients typically receive their messages several seconds after they have been sent, in contrast to the several days that standard post takes. Email also holds a major advantage over fax machines, in that a fax machine needs to be connected to a phone line and ready to receive a message for the message to go through. Email, on the other hand, will be delivered to a user's inbox regardless of whether the user is currently connected to the Internet.

Global Access

Fax messages, telephone calls and postal mail are typically sent to one location, regardless of where the recipient is. If the recipient is not at the destination address, they will not receive their message. Email messages are also sent to one location; they are stored on an email provider's server. When email users want to read their messages they connect to the server using an email client. Email users can access their email from anywhere in the world as long as they have access to an email client.

Attachments

Most email providers allow users to attach files to their messages. These attachments can be anything from music files to slide shows. Virtually any type of file that can be saved on a computer can be sent over email, provided it fits within the email provider's maximum file size limit. Email messages can also contain hyperlinks to Web pages on the Internet.

Cost

In contrast to most telephone, fax and postal services, there is no cost for sending an email message beyond the initial cost of connecting to the Internet. Email messages are free regardless of their destination, whether it is just down the street or on the other side of the world. Some email providers may charge users for email storage if they keep their messages saved on the provider's servers, but they do not charge for sending or receiving messages.

Records

It is very easy to keep records of electronic correspondence through email. Most email providers support email saving or archiving, allowing user's to save important email for later access. Some email providers also allow users to save their emails into organized folders and search for the messages using keywords.

Filters

Email providers utilize effective electronic filters, called spam filters, to protect your email inbox from getting clogged with junk email. These measures are typically more effective than similar measures designed to protect you from junk mail in the postal mail and telemarketers on phone lines. Many email providers also allow you to create your own filters to automatically sort and process your email.

References

• Net History: The History Of Email; Ian Peter