Electronic mail, or e-mail is far and away the most popular aspect of the Internet. You can send an e-mail message from your computer to anyone else on the Internet with an e-mail address. Therefore, e-mail is your personal connection to the world of the net.

The basic concepts behind e-mail parallel those of regular mail. You send mail to people at their particular addresses. In turn, they write to you at your e-mail address. You can subscribe to the electronic equivalent of magazines and newspapers. You might even get electronic junk mail.
 

E-mail has two distinct advantages over regular mail (snail mail). The most obvious is speed. Instead of several days, your message can reach the other side of the world in hours, minutes or even seconds (depending on where you drop off your mail and the state of the connections between there and your recipient). The other advantage is that once you master the basics, you'll be able to use e-mail to access databases and file libraries.

E-mail also has advantages over the telephone. You send your message when it's convenient for you. Your recipients respond at their convenience. No more telephone tag or even waiting for your kids or grandkids to give you a call. The kids are more apt to communicate quicker by e-mail than by phone. And while a phone call across the country or around the world can quickly result in a huge phone bill, e-mail lets you exchange vast amounts of mail for only a few pennies---even if the other person is in Europe, Africa or Asia.

If you have any questions about e-mail, or would like more information, or would like to set-up an e-mail address through an Internet access account, please contact the BCD Online,