Ads in paid for web-mail service

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MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 85672 23-Jun-2011 10:07

I use Telecom's web-mail (hosted by Yahoo!) as my main way of managing my e-mail. Recently, however, I have noticed that they have introduced a panel on the right-hand-side dedicated to showing ads. If this was a free service then I could accept this, but, as it happens, I, like all Telecom home internet customers, pay for this service and hence don't expect to be bombarded with ads nor have our screen-real-estate reduced by an ad panel.

Optionally, I could personally accept the ads on the condition that the price for my e-mail-only plan with Telecom was significantly reduced. It's either one or the other, ads and a reduced price or no ads and the same price. Seems fair to me.

I have since lodged a complaint with Telecom and suggest all affected Telecom home internet customers follow suit by using the following form...

https://www.telecom.co.nz/form/1,8751,5473-204490,00.html

-Andreas

P.S. Yes, I know, I can install an ad-blocker, but one shouldn't have to do this.

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192 posts

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Reply # 484938 23-Jun-2011 12:11

Are you a Telecom broadband customer or email only customer?

If you get Telecom Broadband, then this email service is free and I would expect ads:
http://www.telecom.co.nz/broadband/premiumservices

If you are an email only customer you have a point, today's online commerce works on ad based programs being free and a paid subscriptions enables no ads.

Such as GZ and majority of the Android market :)

johnr

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Reply # 484951 23-Jun-2011 12:41

I pay to use trademe and still see ads

robbyp

1163 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 484953 23-Jun-2011 12:43

The ads will only be in webmail. Basically telecoms xtra email, is just yahoos email system, which is free. The thing you are paying for is renting the @xtra.co.nz extension I doubt telecom have any control over the ads.

dacraka

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Reply # 484955 23-Jun-2011 12:44

Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

timmmay

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Reply # 484963 23-Jun-2011 12:55

Using ISP provided email accounts means if you change ISPs you have to pay them a fee to retain your email address, if they even let you. Switch to gmail, use an ad blocker, you won't see any ads and you can keep the address for a long time.

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robbyp

1163 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 484964 23-Jun-2011 12:55

dacraka: Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

I thought that they had sold part of it recently to yahoo 7, which could be something to do with the changes. I guess using a an @xtra.co.nz email address is sort of advertising in itself. But if the OP isn't happy, they can change ISPs as there is a lot of competition now

MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484976 23-Jun-2011 13:03

timmmay: Using ISP provided email accounts means if you change ISPs you have to pay them a fee to retain your email address, if they even let you. Switch to gmail, use an ad blocker, you won't see any ads and you can keep the address for a long time.

I'm OK with paying for my e-mail address and the surrounding services but then my money should reflect what I get. Ads don't. They should pay me or reduce my charges.

MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484977 23-Jun-2011 13:04

robbyp:
dacraka: Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

I thought that they had sold part of it recently to yahoo 7, which could be something to do with the changes. I guess using a an @xtra.co.nz email address is sort of advertising in itself. But if the OP isn't happy, they can change ISPs as there is a lot of competition now

That was a looooong time ago they sold out. (I've been with Telecom/Xtra for many, many years.) All has been fin until recently when they cheekily included ads.

timmmay

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Reply # 484978 23-Jun-2011 13:06

MrAndreas:
timmmay: Using ISP provided email accounts means if you change ISPs you have to pay them a fee to retain your email address, if they even let you. Switch to gmail, use an ad blocker, you won't see any ads and you can keep the address for a long time.

I'm OK with paying for my e-mail address and the surrounding services but then my money should reflect what I get. Ads don't. They should pay me or reduce my charges.

If you move from Telecom they may or may not let you keep the email address. There's a risk there, which is why ISP email addresses are generally not the best idea.

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MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484983 23-Jun-2011 13:09

robbyp: The ads will only be in webmail. Basically telecoms xtra email, is just yahoos email system, which is free. The thing you are paying for is renting the @xtra.co.nz extension I doubt telecom have any control over the ads.

I've spoken to Telecom in the past over their cost of their e-mail-only service and they justified it by these so called value-added services they include (like Flickr Pro and Yahoo! Mail).

By the way. as far as I know, the paid for version of Yahoo! Mail (the one not affiliated with Telecom) doesn't have ads but the free version does. Compare this with the paid-for version users get with Telecom.

NonprayingMantis

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Reply # 484985 23-Jun-2011 13:10

MrAndreas:
robbyp:
dacraka: Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

I thought that they had sold part of it recently to yahoo 7, which could be something to do with the changes. I guess using a an @xtra.co.nz email address is sort of advertising in itself. But if the OP isn't happy, they can change ISPs as there is a lot of competition now

That was a looooong time ago they sold out. (I've been with Telecom/Xtra for many, many years.) All has been fin until recently when they cheekily included ads.

It was very recent, like in the last couple of months.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1104/S00502/telecom-and-yahoo7-confirm-change-of-partnership.htm

MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484991 23-Jun-2011 13:14

scorpiworld: Are you a Telecom broadband customer or email only customer?

If you get Telecom Broadband, then this email service is free and I would expect ads:
http://www.telecom.co.nz/broadband/premiumservices

If you are an email only customer you have a point, today's online commerce works on ad based programs being free and a paid subscriptions enables no ads.

Such as GZ and majority of the Android market :)

Correction. Free doesn't mean the free versions but the paid for versions of these services, such as Flickr Pro. This is how it has always been until just recently. (I have been a Telecom/Xtra customer for many, many years and have been using their web-mail service for a long time now.)

MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484996 23-Jun-2011 13:17

NonprayingMantis:
MrAndreas:
robbyp:
dacraka: Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

I thought that they had sold part of it recently to yahoo 7, which could be something to do with the changes. I guess using a an @xtra.co.nz email address is sort of advertising in itself. But if the OP isn't happy, they can change ISPs as there is a lot of competition now

That was a looooong time ago they sold out. (I've been with Telecom/Xtra for many, many years.) All has been fin until recently when they cheekily included ads.

It was very recent, like in the last couple of months.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1104/S00502/telecom-and-yahoo7-confirm-change-of-partnership.htm

Gee, I was unaware of the change. I thought people were referring to the original Xtra/Yahoo! deal many years ago. Makes owning an Xtra e-mail address less appealing.

MrAndreas

59 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 484999 23-Jun-2011 13:22

MrAndreas:
NonprayingMantis:
MrAndreas:
robbyp:
dacraka: Mayby it's because Telecom is splitting away from Yahoo, therefore Yahoo now says Telecom can't have ad-free webmail if you want to continue using our webmail services.

I thought that they had sold part of it recently to yahoo 7, which could be something to do with the changes. I guess using a an @xtra.co.nz email address is sort of advertising in itself. But if the OP isn't happy, they can change ISPs as there is a lot of competition now

That was a looooong time ago they sold out. (I've been with Telecom/Xtra for many, many years.) All has been fin until recently when they cheekily included ads.

It was very recent, like in the last couple of months.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1104/S00502/telecom-and-yahoo7-confirm-change-of-partnership.htm

Gee, I was unaware of the change. I thought people were referring to the original Xtra/Yahoo! deal many years ago. Makes owning an Xtra e-mail address less appealing.

If Yahoo! now 100% owns Xtra, shouldn't I be able to tear myself lose from Telecom and pay Yahoo! directly to maintain my Xtra address AND get the ad-free version of web-mail??? Good riddance to Telecom, I say.

Ragnor

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Reply # 485193 23-Jun-2011 21:18

My advice as always is to register your own domain then arrange your own email hosting usually via Google or Microsoft.

- A .co.nz is $20-25 NZD per year
- Email hosting is $0 to $10 NZD per month, Eg: Google Apps for Domains Standard is free, Microsoft Exchange Online ~$9 NZD/month, Google Apps for Business is $5 USD per user per month.

It's not that hard to setup tbh.

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