Yahoo Launches Beta Test for New Web Mail Service!

[Dashken]

Yahoo Inc. announced Wednesday that it has commenced beta testing for an updated version of its popular e-mail service, which has not seen such an overhaul since its initial debut in 1997.

The beta version is available today to a select group of Yahoo Mail users in the United States.

These testers will assess the speed, efficiency and functionality of the Web mail service.

Yahoo Mail offers several enhanced capabilities in the newest version of its browser-based service, according to a recent news release.

Most notably, perhaps, the new user interface mimics that of a traditional desktop e-mail application, rather than what we see in most Web-oriented systems.

Additionally, the beta version features drag and drop message organization, message preview, keyboard shortcuts and right-click menus.

The updated version of Yahoo Mail will allow users to open and read multiple messages simultaneously, as well as view all e-mail headers through a folder (rather than having to scroll and refresh, repeatedly).

Yahoo worked with Oddpost Inc., a company that provides Web-based e-mail applications (and was acquired by Yahoo in 2004) to incorporate advanced technologies including DHTML, XML and SOAP, for improvements in efficiency and functionality, according to the news release.

Yahoo's new and improved Web Mail is compatible with Firefox (for both Mac and Windows users) and Internet Explorer (for Windows users only) and requires no software downloads, as it remains browser-based.

The service is available, as always, free of charge (it receives support from advertisers) and will continue to offer users virus and spam protection.

"This beta gives people a faster and more dynamic way to experience Yahoo Mail, yet continues to offer the same features they rely upon today: great anti-spam and virus protection, tons of storage, it's all there," said Ethan Diamond, director, product development, Yahoo Mail, in a statement.

"We're looking forward to receiving feedback on the beta as we continue the development process."

Yahoo is giving access to a limited number of users, beginning Wednesday.

Beta testers will be able to toggle between the new and existing versions of the e-mail service (for comparative purposes) until the testing phase comes to a close.

After completion, Yahoo plans to roll out the updated e-mail service to users worldwide.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1859228,00.asp

[peaz]

Hmm sounds a lot like Microsoft's Exchange Server 2003's web interface. That one looks and works just like MS Outlook 2003!