Yahoo Mail - free email service

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Yahoo Mail is a free email service launched by Yahoo in October 1997. It quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the leading email platforms globally. The service allows users to send and receive emails via a web interface and, later, mobile apps for iOS and Android. Yahoo Mail offers a range of features, including folders, filters, and spam protection, with a user-friendly design that has been updated several times over the years.

One of Yahoo Mail's significant early advantages was the large storage capacity it provided. Initially, users had 4 MB of free storage, but in 2007, Yahoo introduced unlimited email storage. This was eventually adjusted in 2013 to 1 TB of free storage per account, still one of the largest in the market for free email services. Yahoo Mail's interface has been redesigned multiple times, with a major update in 2017, focusing on speed, organization tools, and a modern appearance.

Yahoo Mail initially offered free and paid versions. The free version contained ads, while Yahoo Mail Plus (later renamed Yahoo Mail Pro) offered an ad-free experience and additional features like extra storage and customer support. The paid version remains available today as Yahoo Mail Pro.

The service has faced serious security issues. Yahoo disclosed two major data breaches in 2013 and 2014, with the 2013 breach affecting all 3 billion Yahoo accounts. These breaches significantly impacted the company’s reputation and led to legal and regulatory consequences.

Despite the challenges, Yahoo Mail remains popular, with over 200 million active users as of 2020. Under Verizon Communications, which acquired Yahoo’s core internet assets in 2017, Yahoo Mail has continued to evolve, offering features like customizable layouts, better organization, and integration with other email providers like Gmail and Outlook. It remains a central service in Yahoo’s broader portfolio of offerings.