E-mail is perhaps one of the most widely used computer tools that is available today. At least 75% of everyone that has some type of access to the Internet uses e-mail. I know even from personal experience that many people who don't have much of a clue how to use a computer still know how to use their e-mail. It links people together and makes transactions and interaction more accessable than ever before. Communication is also a great deal cheaper through the means of e-mail. The popularity of e-mail among personal individuals, not even taking the companies into account, could stem from a combination of two sources. First, world wide communication via the telephone is extremely expensive but at least it is virtually instantaneous. Next, people love to get mail, perhaps simply because it shows that someone out there cares enough to take the time to do it. There is a personal touch. However, the problem with mail is that it takes such a long time to receive. I've heard of instances up to one month's time. E-mail on the other hand takes and combines the best features of both and eliminates the negatives of both. Another positive is that because e-mail uses text files it doesn't necessitate the use of powerful computers or high-speed connections.
From a business prospective, it is fairly safe to say that we are
movining toward a paperless society. The convenience of e-mail is being
utilized more and more everyday. It is used excessively to keep coworkers
in contact with one another even in their own local work environment.
With over 25years of history, e-mail is still increasing in popularity.
It has become such a vital part of the business world that schools have
started incorportating it into class programs. Personally, I have already
had classes in which the test is online and the answer must be e-mailed to
the professor.