AOL and Yahoo both say they will offer new service

Two of the world's biggest e-mail providers are preparing to charge companies for delivering large numbers of e-mails, which would otherwise be stopped by anti-spam filters. This report from our North American business correspondent Guto Harri:

Listen to the story

So in the next few months, Yahoo and AOL will try a different approach. For less than a penny a piece, they're offering to deliver e-mails directly to people's inboxes, bypassing any anti-spam device. Sending thousands or millions of e-mails would clearly incur a significant cost - but for that fee, the business would get a stamp of approval and authenticity. The customer could be reassured that the approach was genuine, and Yahoo and AOL would make a lot of money. Anyone who didn't want to pay could carry on as before.

Listen to the words

the Internet equivalent of junk mail
the same thing on the Internet as letters, especially advertisements, that are sent by organisations to large numbers of people. We use the term 'junk mail' to show disapproval.

At best, it's unwanted; at its worst, it can be sinister or offensive
if something is 'sinister', it makes you feel that something evil, dangerous, or illegal is happening or will happen. If something is 'offensive' it is very rude or insulting and likely to upset people. Notice the construction: 'at best ... at worst ...'. We use this to emphasise the negative aspects or qualities of something. We put the least bad quality first, then the worst.

to block
to stop

legitimate
reasonable and allowed by law

filtered
removed

making it hard for
making it difficult for

For less than a penny a piece
for under a penny for each e-mail

bypassing
avoiding, going around

a stamp of approval and authenticity
if something has 'a stamp of' particular qualities, it has those qualities. 'Approval' means officially accepted or allowed. 'Authenticity' means the quality of being true.

carry on
continue

Read more about this story

For Teachers
Lesson plan based on this story (113k)