fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| Why not?
I stopped using my ISPs email service years ago. I have changed ISPs many times since then but haven't had to change my email address. My email now actually goes to Google via a forwarding setup, and through the use of Google's free POP/SMTP service, and free extensions to Thunderbird/Lightning, I can use Google's email and calender right in my desktop email application with ease, and still be able to access it from anywhere in the world, from any ISP. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
1 edit |  I use Google tools directly; but all-in-one option good ....
... for the non technical users that make up the vast number of an ISP's customers.
While I don't need the hand holding an ISP often provides with their web portals, many customers love it and Google is smart in doing deals with the ISPs. Google gets money from the ISPs and the ISP's users get a comprehensive suite of email, calendaring, and productivity tools for nothing. And the ISPs may get to cut their costs by eventually dumping their own email support staff.
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Internet News
My BLOG
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| LOL!
Long before Google ever had webmail, my main email has been Yahoo.
Had Yahoo back when I was still on dialup.
Now? Comcast? Sure I have an account there(and several other webmail services).
Gmail is ok, but it isn't all that.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable
| New level of data-mining
If your ISP farms out its email service to Google, then Google becomes able to match up your searches with the contents of your emails (by IP address even if not by cookies). Then even if you refuse the Google cookies, all your searches and email contents can be put together into a personally identifiable profile.
They may even have your subscriber information (real name, address etc.) in addition to your email contents.
Anyone who already uses GMail doesn't mind Google cookies, perpetual storage of all their emails and data-mining for advertisers. But for those who prefer to opt out it suddenly gets much harder. |
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | but wait, didn't google say their motto was "Don't Be Evil?"
my how the times have changed. |
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yabos
join:2003-02-16
Ingersoll, ON
| reply to swhx7
I've noticed that Google keeps you logged in when you leave GMail and go to the search page. No doubt they are tracking what you search and tying it to the info they have in your GMail account. I find this a bit shady so I only use the POP interface to GMail. |
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MSauk
MSauk
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Sandy, UT
 ·Qwest.net
 ·Vonage
·Verizon BroadbandA..
 ·surpasshosting
·Comcast
| Who cares if they track
who cares if they track what you search, I have nothing to hide and I could care less if they see that I searched for some girl with large tata's last night.
I love their services and all 5 of my emails go through them so I never have to purchase software again to put on my cpu so I lose it every time I format because I am too lazy to backup.
I like the idea of gmail and because of it I use it.
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Arena Football Network.com
Arena and Indoor Football News |
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dibbb
join:2003-09-19 | Who uses their ISP email anyway??
Well, I guess some do, but that just would suck if you ever changed providers.
Why not just use Gmail to begin with instead of this rebranded crap?
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»myhax0r.net
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disc
join:2005-12-31
Raleigh, NC
| reply to inteller
Re: New level of data-mining
said by inteller  :but wait, didn't google say their motto was "Don't Be Evil?" my how the times have changed. Evil? I want to use Google's services, plain and simple. If they want to compete by impeding the market (or my usage), then that would be another thing, but that's not how they're operating.
I could imagine that our government would have an interest in getting their hands on personal information in Google's systems. But that doesn't make Google evil. And Google certainly seems to be willing to make a stink about it when the Feds over-reach - compare that to how the Telcos rolled over in the face of unwarranted wire-tapping. |
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mikes60
My Paradise
Premium
join:2001-07-31
Boynton Beach, FL
·AT&T Southeast
·Vonage
| reply to dibbb
Re: Who uses their ISP email anyway??
said by dibbb :Well, I guess some do, but that just would suck if you ever changed providers. Why not just use Gmail to begin with instead of this rebranded crap? It makes sense to use the rebranded version for someone like BellSouth (AT&T Southeast) who have a real problem with their own email. For the bulk of their subscribers, who would need real hand holding for any other change, keeping their email address would be very easy.
I just gave up and use my own domain with 1and1.com, but the average Bellsouth customer would benefit greatly by rebranding.
AT&T, in other areas, has already rebranded with Yahoo.
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No good deed goes unpunished. |
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DaneJasper
Sonic.Net
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
clubs: | reply to yabos
Re: New level of data-mining
This kind of gave me the willies:
»www.google.com/history/
-Dane |
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Alcohol
Premium
join:2003-05-26
Somerset, NJ
| Why?
I doubt some guy is sitting on his desk looking at your searches.
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| reply to inteller
"Don't be evil" doesn't mean "Don't hold back from offering new services and opportunities just because somebody might someday use them for evil purposes."
Such an approach ("don't do anything anybody might not like at some time in the future") would have prevented the introduction of the automobile, telephone, photography, etc.
All this hand-wringing over Google reminds me of the early days of the Caller ID debates--where people thought it was a violation of the caller's privacy if someone could know who was calling before picking up the phone--ignoring the privacy rights of the person being called. Sheesh.
If you don't like it, don't use it. But don't keep me from using it just so your paranoia holds me back too.
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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robvip2442
join:2007-05-19
Prince George, VA | reply to DaneJasper
Sheesh. Some people see afraid their skeletons gonna come out of the closet.
Hotmail member since 1997 and going... |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| reply to dadkins
Re: LOL!
said by dadkins :Long before Google ever had webmail, my main email has been Yahoo. Had Yahoo back when I was still on dialup. Now? Comcast? Sure I have an account there(and several other webmail services). Gmail is ok, but it isn't all that. Yahoo charges for POP access, Gmail doesn't. I've had a Yahoo email account for many years but it is used only as the email contact for online stuff, so that my "real" email isn't given out for spammers to datamine. |
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corster
Premium
join:2002-02-23
Ottawa, ON
clubs: | reply to mikes60
Re: Who uses their ISP email anyway??
I use gmail as a webmail interface for my domain's own mail anyways :P
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Conservative Party of Canada |
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