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Yahoo and the biggest Internet service Providers in the US, AOL, have announced plans to charge for their email services. The idea is that emails would be sent free as a basic service, but would get to people faster if you pay for that service. It is the email equivalent of “ordinary” and “fast-post” mail delivery. Unpaid emails would be held back going to and from your inbox.

The idea will be sold especially to businesses as a way to make sure their emails gets into your inbox rather than getting labeled as spam. Critics say spam mail gets through anyway, as spammers get clever about knowing how to avoid spam filters. It also goes against the original intention behind email; that it was cheap (free), easy to use, and fast.

Overseas Internet access providers are also talking about charging money to give you priority over services or faster speed. Telcos are especially making this argument to recover the cost of broadband or higher speed services. One of the founders of the Net, Vinton Cerf, argued before US senate committee that the Net was designed with no gatekeepers over new content and services, and that all Net traffic should be treated equally by Internet providers. The committee is considering the proposal by US telcos to charge for giving people preferential treatment.

What do you think of this idea?