Email software faces a new threat.

With today's technology, many business and services becomes obsolete. Who needs a CD-rom encyclopedia now when we can do a search on the search engine?

As more and more webmail and social networking sites provide communication tools, the question now is "Is desktop email software obsolete?"

Using social networking tools, you can also store your calender, messages, photos all in a simple location, with one simple login, without the need to download software. You can access this information on mnay different platforms, on your notebook, desktops and mobile phones, and it is relatively independent of operating systems. There are many benefits and convenience this brings as this important information can be conveniently accessed, and is much more portable than ever before. The only difference or benefit of using an email software is that you can use it offline.

In today's world, in countries where wireless internet can be found in many large cities for free, the benefit of using this information offline becomes increasingly less significant, especially when it mobile devices like the handphone can be used like a portable handheld device, and alllow the access to the webmail.

Are social networking tools and webmails changing the way we comunicate today? Can desktop mail software programs still stay relevant to today's consumer?

-- Iron Bowl