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Author Topic: Ideas wanted ...  (Read 4259 times)

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Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2010, 10:20:03 am »
Yes.
I personally wouldn't be too fussed about webmail but IMAP and SMTP would be a big thumbs up user@mail.linux.co.uk or something...

Were you thinking along the lines of a free service, ad-supported, or commercial?
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2010, 10:28:24 am »
>Were you thinking along the lines of a free service, ad-supported, or commercial?

Well, we have a mail system, but it's resources are finite, so absolutely free isn't feasible, money needs to come from somewhere for it .. open to any ideas ??
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Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2010, 11:43:58 am »
I can understand free not being an option.

Ad supported models if done correctly (read subtle relevant adverts) can work. But if you have IMAP/SMTP access then a user wouldn't necessarily see the ads. Unfortunately your forum users would end up generating the revenue required for your email users. This is not to say it can't be done though.

Perhaps a part subscription part ad based service would be a way forward?

I have seen subscription services fail before (anyone remember linuxmail.org?) This was funded primarily by really obtrusive ads but was free. You could pay for an ads free service (about 5 quid a year I think). You also had the option of paying for SMTP/POP/IMAP access (can't remember exactly but think it was about a fiver). Unfortunately the mailbox was tiny ~200Mb and the service was shocking. They did have some forums but they got abandoned about 2002.

Maybe if there were other services which could be bundled with it?
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2010, 04:23:31 pm »
Mmm, first hurdle to jump is user identification .. and the 'easy' way to do this is to take some sort of payment via credit card / paypal (even if it's just 10p).

That aside, I'm wondering if a free / limited service, with options to pay for more, might be the way to go .. so maybe a one-off  £1 signup for a linux.co.uk address forwarded to your current mailbox.

Next level might be (?) a pop box with 10M of space for £5 a year, then 25M on IMAP for £10 a year .. etc. Dunno .. what do you think?

If I set up a test server, would anyone be interested in testing it out with a view to advising on what might be a reasonable fee?
(Incidentally, we're using 'Zimbra' as a mail server)
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?

Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #19 on: August 16, 2010, 05:42:39 pm »
Hmmmmm. You would need to get an idea of how many people would be prepared to use it. That way you could work out if a pricing plan was viable. Its worth pointing out there is some pretty stiff competition in the form of existing free services.

How many of Zimbra's features are you looking at implementing? A professionally managed collaboration environment might actually appeal to a wider audience?
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #20 on: August 16, 2010, 06:48:42 pm »
Currently Linux.co.uk site on a complete Zimbra install and all facilities are available .. but it's shared with other services. I'd be looking at a dedicated Zimbra just for linux.co.uk - again with all services [potentially] enabled.

[I've been using Zimbra web interface 100% for the last few years .. I just find Thunderbird, Evolution et al way too slow ... but then I've a lot of messages knocking around .. :)]
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?

Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #21 on: August 17, 2010, 10:55:29 am »
Unfortunately webmail for me isn't quite so feasible. I'm often connecting over VERY slow links (14.4Kbps sometimes less!) from all over the place. Using a mail client means I don't have to wait for 20 mins while the front page of whatever webmail service loads.
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #22 on: August 17, 2010, 12:22:17 pm »
:)

I use a push-mail service (which is essentially IMAP) from "3" from the Zimbra service .. Zimbra mobile works nicely if you have a smart phone .. bandwidth requirements are fairly low, but I can see it being an issue on a 14k modem .. (!)
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?

Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #23 on: August 18, 2010, 12:24:43 pm »
Almost everything is an issue over 14.4k!
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #24 on: August 18, 2010, 06:36:50 pm »
Time to upgrade to 19200?   ;)
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?

Offline Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #25 on: August 18, 2010, 07:01:33 pm »
Last time I had a 14400 modem (USRobotics), I was paying Demon Internet 3p per minute... happy days :)
and I longed for a 33600, but they cost an arm and a leg.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2010, 07:04:22 pm by Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec) »
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Offline Currysoup

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #26 on: August 20, 2010, 05:24:47 am »
Quote from: Mad Penguin on August 18, 2010, 06:36:50 pm
Time to upgrade to 19200?   ;)

I wish. However not every country's GSM network is quite up to task. I have considered a portable Satmodem but they don't come cheap.
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Offline shantyjohn

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #27 on: August 31, 2010, 10:28:48 am »
Re email accounts, I would be interested if it's full blown
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Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #28 on: August 31, 2010, 11:03:26 am »
Ok, "@community.linux.co.uk" is now live with the very latest version of Zimbra .. currently used by myself and Mark running on two cores on a "beast". Everything is enabled including documents, briefcase, chat, anti-spam, anti-virus etc etc ... tell us what facilities you want, how much space you need, what the service would be worth to you / what you would be prepared to pay ...

Beast :: http://linux.co.uk/2010/08/building-a-beast/
(go on, ask me if it's quick ... ;)  )
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?

Offline Mad Penguin

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Re: Ideas wanted ...
« Reply #29 on: September 01, 2010, 01:48:05 pm »
Couple of screenshots;

Zimbra reading Email
Zimbra reading Email

Zimbra's Social Networking Plugin
Zimbra's Social Networking Plugin
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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
The box said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed LINUX
(D)inner not ready: (A)bort (R)etry (P)izza?
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