Gmail, a free online e-mail service offered by Google, could provide a clue to the way things are going.

ECONOMIST: Now they have assumed power, what will consumers do with it?

The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

ENGADGET: blogger-avatar

Last year Colorado adopted a particularly tough regime, including a requirement that all government contractors run new hires through E-Verify--an otherwise voluntary federal online service that checks if the Social Security or immigration id numbers that new hires provide are legit.

FORBES: Who's Gonna Do the Work?

And Google has already fused online services such as maps, e-mail and its YouTube video service with the iPhone.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Some versions warned e-mail service firms that they would be attacked online if they disabled the accounts to which Mimail was sending data.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

Founded in 1985, AOL has transformed itself from an online service to a provider of interactive services, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.

BBC: You are in: Business

Its Japanese-language counterpart, which currently accepts orders but not online payments, will be relaunched next month as a full-service e-commerce center complete with virtual shopping trolleys and real-time credit-card processing.

CNN: PRETTY IN PINK SLUMP

Spark placed the development of free e-mail service Hotmail at No. 2 on the list, but online users disagreed, placing it sixth with 1, 000 votes.

CNN: Poll: Google the best of the Web

You could use the online free file option provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (which has income limits), the online e-file option or various other free filing services available online.

FORBES: Simple Last-Minute Tax Tips

We have had a huge number of e-mails from listeners to the BBC World Service and readers of BBC News Online, all of whom wanted an opportunity to take part in today's programme.

BBC: Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel

Because DirecPC is still tethered to phone-line modems for Web page and e-mail requests, I must dial into my regular Internet service provider to get started online.

CNN: Satellite access a mixed bag