E-mail catches up to snail mail, but not in security
The average daily volume of electronic mail (e-mail) is expected to grow from 9.7 bil pieces in 2000 to 35 bil pieces by 2005, while first-class mail will decline 3.6%/yr from 700 mil pieces to 583 mil pieces, respectively, according to USA Today research. The percentage of households with e-mail access was 34% in 1999, rising to 53% by 2001, according to a Pitney Bowes telephone survey.
E-mail is increasingly being used for legal, medical and financial communications; however, there are still security concerns, while a stamped letter delivered to a post office is protected under federal law. Article discusses obligations of Internet service providers in terms of privacy and inspection of e-mail use by customers, and software/services that help ensure privacy. Line and bar graphs depict average daily volume of e-mail and first-class mail in 2000-2005, households with e-mail access in 1999 and 2001, and growth of e-mail in North America in 1995-2001. ISSN 0161-7389; Page 3D © 2001 Resp. DB Svcs. All rts. reserv.
