New Web mail service launched

BuyDomains.com has launched a free Web-based e-mail service that shuns pop-up ads and gives users 150MB of in-box storage and the option of choosing from 130 pre-selected domain names for their e-mail address.

The Bethesda, Maryland company, a seller domain names, will officially launch the service, called SeeqMail, on Wednesday, but users already can sign up for it at www.seeqmail.com.

SeeqMail scans incoming and outgoing e-mail messages for viruses, offers spam filtering and provides an online calendar and address book, said Michelle Miller, chief operating officer of BuyDomains.com. SeeqMail also features a streamlined user interface designed to load quickly, lets users encrypt their e-mail messages and supports POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol), she said. “Our goal is to offer a great e-mail service to our customers,” Miller said.

The 150MB of in-box storage will help to put BuyDomains.com in a competitive position with other providers of free Web-based e-mail, such as Yahoo Inc., which is offering 100MB, and Microsoft Corp., which is offering 250MB. Anything above 100MB is generally considered more than enough for an average user. An upcoming Web-based e-mail service from Google Inc. will feature a 1GB in-box.

Meanwhile, SeeqMail will let users choose from 130 domain names for their e-mail address, such as teacherzone.com, caterers.net and techexpert.com. This will allow users to offer a level of personalization for their e-mail address, rather than using the domain name of the e-mail provider, Miller said. The full list is at http://www.seeqmail.com/names.html. These are domain names that BuyDomains.com owns and has set aside for SeeqMail users, Miller said. The list will grow to about 500 domain names in the coming months, she said. SeeqMail also lets users employ their own domain name, if they own one or if they want to buy one from BuyDomains.com, she said.

SeeqMail will generate revenue for BuyDomains.com through a banner ad running across the bottom of users’ in-box and through text ads included in outgoing e-mail messages, she said.

Founded in 1999, BuyDomains.com’s core business is selling domain names. It has a portfolio of about 350,000 registered domain names for sale. It also provides complementary services, such as Web hosting, domain transfer, domain registration and technical support. The company will promote SeeqMail at www.buydomains.com, at its main portal www.seeq.com, and across its network of over 20 topic-specific portals, Miller said.