You can use an e-mail program which is provided by your ISP, or you can use one of the webmail services - many of which are free!

It's useful to know that they all work in a similar way, enabling you to write, send, receive, store and manage your mail.

So, don't stick with an e-mail account you aren't happy with - just because you're familiar with it.

E-mail from your ISP

When you open an account with an Internet Service Provider you will be given an e-mail address. You can choose the first bit yourself so it would be something like: myname@isp.net.

The bit before the '@' is you, the bit after is your ISP's 'domain', the address of the computer that permanently keeps your mailbox.

Some service providers give you several mailboxes on an account and may let you rename part of the domain yourself like: myname@myaccount.isp.net.

If you have an internet account with one of the dial-up services then they may offer you multiple e-mail addresses - as many as five.

When you open an account with an Internet Service Provider as well as your e-mail address, you should receive the special software to receive and compose e-mail with.

This should give you an inbox, an outbox and a way of filing stuff you want to keep.

Webmail

Web-based services are slightly different from ordinary e-mail services, as they are accessed exclusively through the web.

That means all you need is a web browser - the software that allows you to look at web pages. So you can check your e-mail away from your computer; for example, you can send or receive e-mail when you are travelling in another country or when you are on holiday.

Have a look at your ISP's website. You may be able to get your mail via webmail when you can't get to your computer. However, free mail services are offered by the main webmail providers.