A popular and convenient way to keep in touch with friends and family is to get a Web-based e-mail address. In this section we review free e-mail services that can be accessed from anywhere, provided you have an Internet connection and a Web browser. You'll find that many providers here allow for file attachments, have filtering options and although may be supported by adverts, are pretty complete in what they have to offer.

If you're mainly situated in one location, a POP3-based e-mail account allows far greater freedom than the majority of Web-based e-mail accounts. Rather than accessing your mail via a Web browser, POP3 e-mail services allow you to download messages to an e-mail client, such as Outlook Express or Eudora. You can then read downloaded mail offline, allocate filters, and perform more advanced tasks.

In this section, we take a look at the Internet's best e-mail freeware applications. If you're in need of a new e-mail client, or want a utility to help combat spam, you'll likely find it in here. Many of these free e-mail software tools make excellent "add-ons" to existing applications, like Microsoft Outlook Express. The majority of these programs have small file sizes and can be downloaded within a few minutes on broadband connections.

Auto Responders are ideal tools to use when you're on holiday or need to remember certain events, dates or appointments. In a nut shell, an auto responder is similar to a telephone answering machine. It sends an automated e-mail message to people who attempt to contact you whilst you're away. Reminder services send you a message a few days (even weeks) before an event, so you can plan ahead for any occasion.

E-mail newsletters (or e-zines) are normally sent weekly or bi-monthly and will arrive in your inbox similarly to how a letter arrives through the post. Opt-in style newsletters can cover a wide range of topics, such as promotion, jokes or entertainment, whilst announcement lists are only sent when there's important news or Web site information. All these can be unsubscribed from and are totally free to receive.