What percentage of people use web based email or desktop based?

Web based: Hotmail, Yahoo, etc - Desktop: Outlook, Eudora, etc

[tomld2]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone know what percentage of people use a web based email account such as hotmail, yahoo, or even a paid one from their ISP or web host? And what percentage of people use a desktop based application such as outlook, eudora, etc. Is there any data of these percentages?

Regards,
Tom

[tedster]

I haven't seen this kind of data - possibly because many people use both a desktop client AND an online account (I know I do.) But I can tell you that recently a newsletter I receive did a survey of their readers (only a few thousand) and found a HUGE variety of email clients:

Outlook - 29%
Outlook Express - 18%
AOL - 10%
Eudora - 10%
Lotus - 7%
Netscape - 5.5%
Yahoo Mail - 4%
Hotmail - 2.5%
--
Other - 14%

'Other' included MS Entourage, Mozilla, Mac OS X Mail, The Bat!, Open Text, FirstClass, Pegagus, Incredimail, Goldmine, Juno, Novell GroupWise and Mulberry.

Just goes to show -- assumptions about email clients can be very dangerous!

[tomld2]

If there isn't market data for this specific topic, what would be an educated estimate as far as what is more popular for the average consumer: web based email or desktop email?

Regards,
Tom

[robert adams]

I don't know about web versus desktop. (I use desktop, OE)

I bet that in the stats shown above, the Outlook numbers include many people that really use Outolook Express. I know a lot of people that calle OE Outlook and are not aware that there is a difference.

Since most people use PCs and most PCs have windows on them, I would assume that most people use OE because it is easiest. That is the same reason most people use IE, they just don't know any better.

luck,
robert

[ronin]

Outlook Express, easiest?
Easiest to get a virus from.

I used to use popcorn, that really was easy.
I decided I wanted to more than just scan my mailserver though, so now I use Thunderbird.

(Which rocks).

[vkaryl]

I use both. IncrediMail on desktops and laptop, webmail through ISP at work. I use Mailwasher AHEAD of IM, no virii etc. for me....

I still have OE on both desktops and laptop, should IM pall, which it's likely it will eventually even though I paid for the "un-advert" version. I don't like Outlook though I have it as well. I'd rather use NOTHING but webmail if I had to deal with Outlook on a daily basis....

I refuse to use hotmail et al. An addy with one of those in it will get you labeled as "spam" instantly by me, so I don't care for that to happen on the other end. In actual fact, there's no reason to use those freebie servers far as I'm concerned, but then I have unlimited email accounts available on domain space I own myself. I just set up one of them as the "dreck catcher", and use it when I order online, etc.

[DaveLite]

I use them all.

I use Outlook, Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo, Excite. Each account has a specific use. Web based for regiserting online, (unless I"m registering at WebmasterWorld)

My anti-viri program takes care of anything that comes from my POP3 accounts.

Who knows maybe I'll get a G-Mail address and subject my spam to prying bots.