Ben Bucksch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Adam Bailey wrote:
>
>>>1. AOL is so huge that standard protocols couldn't handle the volume. Is
>>>that a valid argument? I doubt it.
>>>
>>Back that up with some engineering expertise.
-snip-
> But, of course, that is no reason not to support POP3, like every other
> provider (huge or not) does.
Point out a single commercial provider that has as many subscribers as
AOL and is using POP3.
> BTW: Pure size of the provider is not an argument either. They get
> payments from each of those many users, and email can be made to scale,
> so they could just add servers, if they wanted.
No one knows if POP3 can scale that high, because no one has tried.
Furthermore, POP3 wouldn't interface well with AOL's current IMAP-like
system. Does AOL scrap its entire email system and switch over to something
completely different?
>>>2. Support for 3rd party software is too costly. All they would need is
>>>to teach their technicians how to install/configure about 3 programs (M$
>>>OE, Netscape and Opera). That would cover 99% of their user base
>>>(including those too stupid to not use the AOL software).
>>>
>>Back that up with some support expertise.
>>
> Just ask an arbitary ISP other than AOL. All ISPs I know "support"
> arbitary clients, just that the hotline might not be able to help.
No ISP is anywhere near as big as AOL. Furthermore, the bigger ones (ie:
EarthLink) are frequently criticized as having lousy support.
Plus, AOL attracts a less knowledgeable type of user. The support costs are
even higher.
Calling AOL with an advanced question is already a crapshoot. Half the time
they can't even support their own software, because AOL is just so bloody
huge. Thousands of features and services.
> The third argument (Right now, it is very difficult to forge an email
> message from one AOL member) is just mood. It is trivial to forge emails
> looking to come from aol members by sedning them from another ISP.
Not accurately.
--
Adam Bailey | Chicago, Illinois
[EMAIL PROTECTED] | Finger/Web for PGP
[EMAIL PROTECTED] | http://www.lull.org/adam/
