The Hidden Cost of Webmail
11:29, 22 April 2010
.. Posted in Development, Relief and Advocacy Efforts.. Link
Webmail is great... if you always have great (fast and constant) access to the Internet, and bandwidth is no issue for your ISP. Otherwise, it's a nightmare: there will be many times when you won't be able to access messages, or send or reply to messages.
I travel a lot for work, and there are frequently times I'm in a place where I do not have fast nor constant access to the Internet. That means using a desktop email client programme (in my case, Thunderbird) is my best option, allowing me to use my brief windows of Net access to download and send email, and then offline, to take all the time I need to read and write responses.
This isn't just a consideration for international consultants; it's also a consideration for organizations working in the developing world.
The nonprofit organization Aptivate, based in Cambridge (in the UK), has produced an article on the growing use of web-based email and its effects on developing world institutions. It explores answers to the questions: "Is webmail appropriate when bandwidth is expensive and limited? How does it compare to the alternatives?" It talks about a range of options to ensure your staff has access to email -- something that's essential these days. If you are an organization based in or working in the developing world, this article is a must-read.
