[OpEd] Yahoo boosts mail storage


Gmail and the associated 1GB of storage, an upcoming "free" email service from Google, has spurred Yahoo to boost the storage offered to users of "free" and for-pay mail accounts, a move certain to be welcomed by millions. Currently, free account holders are limited to 6MB of storage.

Thereupon, it would surprise me greatly if Hotmail, Redmond's webmail service, doesn't respond (sooner or later) to the competitive threat posed by Gmail. The company provides Hotmail hooks inside of Entourage, as well as Windows-specific mail applications, and ties the brand to its MSN online service.

That said, getting steamrolled by Google in both the search and mail categories isn't an acceptable outcome. They have to respond.

Although Yahoo is an old friend -- competitive concerns aside -- I'm ambivalent about their success or failure.

Apple's .Mac response?

However, I do very much care about the future fate of Apple's .Mac. In truth, I'm a believer in it. The exceptional level integration with their desktop apps makes it the only choice for me.

That is, for the time being.

The mothership needs to remain competitive and that is why I suggest they bring back "free" services (mail, 20MB storage, "limited" iApp integration), as well as improve their pay-to-play accounts (200MB web storage, 50MB mail storage, always improving iApp integration).

I'll pay Apple's premium prices, but expect products that offer superior value. Otherwise, well, eventually I'll probably take my money elsewhere.

What's your take?