RW wrote:
On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:27:55 -0700
Gary Smith <gary.sm...@holdstead.com> wrote:
Because as I said numerous times I'm not talking about ISPs. I'm not
sure precisely which part of "I'm not talking about ISPs" you don't
understand.
Are you not aware that there are companies that provide email
services without being ISPs: Google, Fastmail, Tuffmail etc.
Just because they don't provide your connection to the internet
doesn't mean they aren't an ISP. The definition of ISP has changed,
or evolved over time. Clearly, freemail providers fall into that
category nowadays.
In my experience email service providers are called ESPs. An ESP
provides an internet service, but is only an ISP to the same extent
that an NNTP provider is an ISP. It would be absurd to call Giganews an
ISP, and it's equally absurd to call Google an ISP.
The common understanding of the term ISP is that it's an organisation
that provides network connectivity. To extend its meaning to any
provider of an internet service renders the term virtually meaningless.
I agree. We're and ISP and I don't want us to be associated with
companies like Google. I don't want Google operating in my market and
I'm sure as heck that Google doesn't want me operating in the search
engine market, either.
I don't agree with this "everyone's an ISP" mentality that's become
so prevalent, recently.
Ted
