“Wireless access through email devices and network services will offer new ways for email users to remain connected longer while on the move,” said Mark Levitt, research director for IDC’s Collaborative Computing program. “Workers such as deskless and mobile workers whose access to email has not come easy will benefit from customised email software, devices, and hosted services.”
IDC forecasts that the number of person to person emails sent on an average day will exceed 36 billion worldwide by 2005. Increased web use will eventually lead to web mail being the most popular form of mail access, reaching 50% of all mail sent by 2003.
“Email usage is growing despite challenges from market substitutes like instant messaging and virtual workspaces that require a change in the way people work and often fall short of matching email’s ease of use and global reach,” said Robert Mahowald, senior analyst for IDC’s Collaborative Computing program. “In addition to the three Ws, email usage will be driven by better integration between email and other business applications and processes that will make email more accessible and therefore more valuable to a broader audience.”
