Via email, Mindshift spokeswoman Lisa Masiello said the company currently has no plans to make changes to its prices or list of services, which include simple cloud-based email as well as more advanced services such as virtual servers and desktops, VoIP solutions, and overall IT management.

WSJ: Best Buy Jumps Into Small Business IT Services

It also offered a private messaging facility which it said was "much more private and secure than email or instant messenger services".

BBC: Liberty Reserve

The Google Dashboard is being touted as a way for users to, at a glance, see information about their Web usage, email usage and more when they are logged into Google services such as Gmail, YouTube and Google Calendar.

FORBES: How much does Google know about you? There's an app for that.

The market is attractive to operators, partly because Japanese consumers have shown themselves more willing than Europeans to use - and pay more for - new services, such as always-on internet access and email.

BBC: Virgin Mobile eyes Japan