Page 122 - Viva ICSE Computer Studies 6 : E-book

• Sent and received messages, and attachments can be stored safely, logically and reliably.
• Sending and receiving messages is simple. Using an address book of e-mail service,
contacts can be accessed easily and quickly.
• Incoming messages have subject line that means you can delete them without opening.
• E-mail is by far the fastest means of written communication. A message can reach to any
part of the world in a fraction of a second.

• Web-based e-mail provides you the facility to access your messages anywhere when you
are online.
• Storing data online means no need for keeping fi le cabinets, folders and shelves. You can
access information far quicker if you learn how to use an e-mail.
• The e-mail message may consist of a few lines or a thousand of lines. Message is not
charged by weight as in postal services.
• Not only text messages but pictures, videos and sounds can also be send over e-mails.

Disadvantages of an E-mail

An e-mail benefi ts the uses in a number of ways. However, e-mail service has certain drawbacks
too.
• Some e-mails may upset you or cause anger and discomfort.
• E-mails lack that personal touch that a handwritten card or letter gives when it comes to
relationships.
• A virus can seriously aff ect your computer. If you want to use an e-mail, you need to know
how to deal with these viruses.
• Due to lack of facial expressions and emotions, there may be misunderstanding while
interpreting the e-mails.

E-mail Address

To send or receive e-mails, you need to have an address called the e-mail address. An e-mail
address functions like the postal address. It denotes the location on the Internet where a
message has to be sent. An e-mail address usually consists of three parts: the username, the @
symbol and the domain name. Together, an e-mail address should read as: username@domain.
com. You may choose any name for the username. However, you must remember it always. The
symbol @ separates the username and the name of mail server.

Domain name is the name of the mail server. For example, yahoo.com is a domain name.
A typical e-mail address looks like this: viva@yahoo.com. Many people can share the same
domain name like ravi@yahoo.com, anubhav@yahoo.com and mauli@yahoo.com.

Creating an E-mail Account

An e-mail address can be created easily through an e-mail client website. The mail servers in
such websites assign every user with a unique e-mail address. Some websites that provide free
e-mail accounts are www.gmail.com, www.yahoomail.com and www.hotmail.com.

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