Web services for your data

Volume 17, Number 6 • June 2000

Web services for your data
by Péter Jacsó

INTERNET INSIGHTS column discusses Web-based services that can provide access to data from anywhere. Reviews the limitations of e-mail, telnet-based mail, and Web-based e-mail services that are offered for monthly subscriptions. Contends that the free, unchained e-mail services offered by portal services provide generous mailboxes and are accessible from any PC with a Web browser. Describes personal services, such as calendars and to-do list managers, that portals offer. Recommends Yahoo! for having the most services. Notes that no portal offers a simple spreadsheet and mini-database manager. Suggests that the ability to import data from existing personal data services applications on the Web or desktop would be a popular feature. Includes four screen displays.