Public web-mail often more powerful and flexible than your corporate mail server.

Electronic Mail is the single most powerful application on the net. It's obvious and I'll skip the obvious. Let's talk about an ideal e-mail configuration I am using today. I am using gmail for my business and personal needs with some complicated setup. Here are the special benefits I am getting out of my current "configuration" of using gmail:

1. I use my own domain name "xxxx@stanleysuen.com" (never publish your e-mail address on the net or you'll get a lot of spam mail) but, really, what's behind the fancy domain name is nothing more than a free "gmail" account. (The domain name, however, cost me US$9.95/yr)
   
   
2. Read and write e-mail on PC with a browser 24x7 anywhere on Earth connecting with Internet.
   
   
3. Read and write e-mail on PC with Microsoft Outlook, a traditional desktop software for e-mail, contacts and appointments. However, we can use just about any e-mail client software like Outlook Express, Netscape or Firefox.
   
   
4. Read and write e-mail on Mobile Phone with a browser interface ( I use a Windows Mobile PDA)
   
   
5. Read and write e-mail on Mobile Phone with build-in E-mail application, which is much better than using a browser on Mobile Phone for such a small screen format.
   
   
6. Backup e-mail with Outlook.
   
   
7. I don't use PushMail like BlackBerry but I can potentially set up my mobile with gmail to do push mail if needed. On this note, I believe Microsoft Live (hotmail) is a more "responsive" push mail platform as the Windows Mobile is built to work with Live for PushMail speed. 

You don't need to buy your own domain name, as in point 1 above, to use gmail but it certainly looks better to your business partners and friends. It is also transparent when youj switch e-mail in future.

To set up the gmail for point 2 to 7 on my top list, most IT support guy knows how to set it up. Just let them know your objectives.

You can even setup your gmail to "represent" your corporate e-mail address so you can write, receive and reply e-mail using your corporate e-mail id but on gmail account. In fact your gmail account can "represent" as many e-mail id as possible once you go through the proper authentication exercise. So you can have "one" single e-mail inbox for both business and personal stuff. Not everybody can do this with their company's e-mail policy but it's possible. This is complicated and advance. I don't think everybody needs to do so but I certainly enjoy using it very much.