Why cloud email providers (and their services) are superior in nearly every regard

Cloud Email

Why cloud email providers (and their services) are superior in nearly every regard

Most individuals are introduced to cloud computing via the various popular cloud based email services that are extremely prevalent, like those offered freely by Google for example (Gmail). Whether or not people realize it, the concept of email (in any form) is essentially basic cloud computing, at least from a structural perspective. Conventional email accounts are nothing more that an interface that allows a user to receive, access and deploy messages from a remote server or servers. However, a true cloud email setup is much more versatile than a standard email setup.

Through a cloud based email account, a user often has a myriad of options at their disposal, aside from just email services. Often times, these cloud email addresses are part of a larger cloud-based account structure that offers users access to hundreds of different applications as well as specific features. In many ways, cloud email service is like a miniaturized version of a larger cloud networking structure. The difference being that cloud email only involves the deployment of email (along with other potential applications), whereas a true cloud computing service offers comprehensive hardware simulation, virtualization and operating software along with a specialized interface, which is designed to interact with and provision the resources of cloud hardware.

Cloud email acts (or behaves) in much the same manner as other cloud services, but it is much less complex; it's essentially a system for maintaining and operating a multi-purpose account that's designed around remotely accessing an email server. Whereas cloud computing hinges around accessing hardware specific functions, cloud email is more geared toward software specific functions and applications.

Cloud Email Applications

The wealth of free cloud email applications offered by their providers is simply stunning. In fact, cloud email accounts are quickly becoming sophisticated online PDA's of sorts. For example, Gmail (which is arguably the most popular and feature-laden cloud email service currently available) allows you to:

• Use GPS via Mobile
• Organize your medical records
• Place calls (domestic and international, with extremely competitive rates),
• Organize your own calendar
• Search a highly developed database of scholarly articles for research and citations
• Publish your own blog
• Map any location on earth
• Get directions
• Publish, share and even edit documents remotely
• Upload, Share and edit photos remotely
• Do translations
• Search for books related to specific topics
• Get instant access to up-to-the-minute financial data
• And lots of others‚Ķ.

And if all of that wasn't enough, Gmail also provides support for accessing their cloud email accounts via mobile devices. The full list of applications (in Gmail) is extremely extensive and they continue to add new services on a continuous basis.

Why so many applications? People like the flexibility of being able to do everything from one point of access; which is perfectly understandable. It is extremely inconvenient to have to log in to several different sites / locations just to access the tools that a person uses on a regular basis, especially if these tools are provided by the same company that provides their cloud email (or if they're partnered with them). And of course, logging into several sites / applications / tools can lead to an inefficient use of system resources and even errors within the OS or browser. The obvious solution to this type of dilemma is full integration. And of course once a cloud email service provider establishes a stable system of integration they can simply copy it and offer it to every user that signs up for their services. And once a user establishes their account, their preferences and activities are logged so that materials, applications and even advertisements that are specific to their interests can be presented to them.

Cloud Email and Social Media / Networking

Many cloud email providers have already integrated their services with nearly all of the popular social media outlets. This push toward integrating social networking with user end email features allows a person to keep track of all correspondences, friends, and colleagues. And you can literally monitor their social networking activities via updates or even widget-like devices that are built into the email interface. Most cloud email systems have even integrated chat-style features into their accounts which allow connected users to quickly communicate with one another; an invaluable tool for those that like to do business through their cloud email accounts.

A personal and business capable interface that can be remotely accessed from any location

The best feature or aspect of cloud email has to be its ability to act as a storage center, organizer and remotely accessible personal / business data platform. Using cloud email means that you no longer have to worry about where your files are, where your presentation is, what that contact's name was; the list goes on and on… Cloud email completely streamlines the way we interface with people on both personal and professional levels.

The best evidence concerning the benefits of using cloud email service(s) is apparent in the number of governmental bodies that (in recent years) have transitioned to cloud-based email systems. Here is a partial list of (US) governmental bodies that are currently using cloud email:

• NOAA
  • General Services Administration
  • the Department of Agriculture
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Department of Labor
• Many Metropolitan Governments including:
  • San Francisco
• As well as countless others that have already moved to the cloud or are considering it in the near future‚Ķ

The features, availability, flexibility, scalability, security and remote access features of cloud email make it an obvious choice for individuals and governments, for personal or business purposes. Since the use of cloud email systems are extremely inexpensive (especially when compared to the costs that an institution or governmental body must front to set up their own email servers), the choice of moving to the cloud is an obvious one.