Inbox.com: 5GB Free Email & File Storage
This is one of those I hope this is not too good to be true items. I read about...
...and was immediately both curious and suspicious about a free web service that provides 5GB (gigabytes) of storage for email, files, and a photo sharing.
So, I signed up for it and it sure looks for real so far. The only drawback so far is that the email only provides POP3 and not IMAP4. But, hey, Yahoo! charges for POP3 and Gmail doesn't provide IMAP4 either. So, this is probably not a big deal.
Data is not backed up for free accounts. However, you can get your 5GB of space backed up for a reasonable $9.90 per year and even increase the storage space to 30GB (with backup) for $29.96 per year.
I hope Inbox.com survives and is able to keep providing this service. It looks good so far.
Be warned that this service
Be warned that this service is slow to send outbound e-mails. Testing shows typical delays of 10 to 15 minutes, or longer. E-mail is not an immediate communications venue, like a chat room, but that is too long a delay. The delay can be seen by reviewing the Received headers to see when you submitted the e-mail (also check your own e-mail client just in case what they list is different) to when it finally submits it to the target (recipient's) mail host.
Also, every outbound e-mail that you send through their "free" service will get spamified. That is, they will append spam onto your outbound e-mails sent through their service. There was no spam signature when using their webmail interface, only when using their POP3 access (which is the only means that I intend to use to provide for local management of my e-mails). So be aware that your outbound e-mails sent through their POP3 server will probably be seen as spam. Lots of other "free" e-mail services do this, too, so it is something to watch for. Personally I never use any "free" service that generates spam "on my behalf". Free should not equate to spam.
Be aware that their description of their POP3 access is that it is currently in beta testing during which that service will remain free. Once it is out of beta, they reserve the right to change the conditions of its use. Well, duh, guess what that means? When it is no longer beta, they are going to charge for it.
By the way:
Despite the author's claim, Gmail now does offer IMAP4 access. I dumped my Gmail for reasons too lengthy to bother listing here.
Yeah, I've been using inbox
Yeah, I've been using inbox for about 2 years now and it is really great but like other people have mentioned, it is very slow at times and quite often when I enter the URL the server is down or the page will just timeout. I know it's a problem with the website, not my local setup. I usually just have to wait a minute and try it again after checking something else. Also, I have seen in sent emails that underneath my email, there will be adds that are automatically added to my email. This doesnt bother me too much with a free email client but as a professional email center, it does not look very professional. I have had quite a few people say "I don't want to buy your crap" or something of that sort. Other than that, it's a fantastic free client that I would recommend to anyone who needs a large file upload in an email.
VanguardLH: Take a look at
VanguardLH: Take a look at the blog date next time. The original block entry was written on Dec. 24, 2006. At that time Google did NOT offer an IMAP4 service.
Sadly it's only 2 GB for
Sadly it's only 2 GB for those outside US, Canada and UK :(