Electronic mail, or email, revolutionized communication by providing a digital alternative to traditional mail. Developed in the late 20th century, it rapidly became a ubiquitous communication method, essential for various aspects of modern life, including business, government, education, and entertainment. An email address is now considered a fundamental requirement for participation in many of these domains across the globe.
1965: Early Computer-Based Messaging with MIT's CTSS Project
The seeds of email were sown in 1965 with MIT's CTSS project, which introduced computer-based messaging between users of the same system, laying the groundwork for future email systems.
1971: First ARPANET Network Email Sent
In a landmark event of 1971, the first ARPANET network email was sent, featuring the now-iconic "@" symbol to denote the user's system address, marking the birth of email as we know it.
1975: Standardization of Email Fields with RFC-680
A pivotal moment in email history, 1975, marked the introduction of RFC-680, which standardized the conventions for fields within emails such as "To," "From," "CC," and "BCC," shaping the fundamental structure of email communication.
1975: Electronic Mail in Common Use
By 1975, the term "electronic mail" was being used with its modern meaning, marking a significant step in email's journey toward widespread adoption.
1978: CompuServe's Foray into Commercial Intraoffice Email
The year 1978 witnessed CompuServe's pioneering move into the commercial intraoffice email market, selling a system to IBM, a development that would shape the future of business communication.
1979: Rise of the Abbreviation "E-mail"
The year 1979 saw the emergence of the shorter term "E-mail," reflecting the growing popularity and evolving lexicon surrounding electronic mail.
1981: CompuServe Expands Email Sales to Xerox
Expanding its reach in the burgeoning email market, CompuServe sold its commercial intraoffice email product to Xerox in 1981, further solidifying its position in the industry.
1982: RFC 822 Defines the Standard for Internet Email
In 1982, RFC 822, based on the earlier RFC 733 for ARPANET, was published, defining the standard for internet email for decades, a testament to its lasting impact.
1982: Launch of DEC's ALL-IN-1 and HP's HPMAIL
The year 1982 saw the launch of two significant email systems: DEC's ALL-IN-1 and Hewlett-Packard's HPMAIL (later HP DeskManager). Notably, HPMAIL went on to become a global leader in the email market.
1983: Implementation of SMTP on ARPANET
A crucial development in email standardization occurred in 1983 with the implementation of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) on the ARPANET, paving the way for seamless email exchange across networks.
1992: Emergence of Setext Markup Language for Plain Text Email
Around 1992, the informal conventions used to mark up plain text in email and usenet posts led to the development of formal languages like setext, reflecting a growing need for standardized text formatting in digital communication.
1995: Internet Protocol Suite Becomes the Email Standard
After the lifting of commercial restrictions on the internet in 1995, the internet protocol suite, including SMTP, POP3, and IMAP, emerged as the standard for email, shaping the future of electronic communication.
2001: RFC 2822 Replaces RFC 822
Email standardization continued to evolve in 2001 when RFC 2822 replaced RFC 822, building upon its foundation and reflecting the ongoing development of internet email protocols.
2003: Rise of Email Spam and Legislation
By 2003, unsolicited bulk email, or "spam," constituted up to 30% of total email traffic, posing a threat to email's practicality. This led to the enactment of the US CAN-SPAM Act in 2003 and similar legislation globally, aiming to curb the influx of spam.
2008: RFC 5322 Supersedes RFC 2822
Further refinement in email standards came in 2008 with the introduction of RFC 5322, which replaced RFC 2822, demonstrating the continuous evolution and adaptation of email protocols to meet changing technological needs.
November 2009: Peak of Email Use in the United States
November 2009 marked the pinnacle of email use in the United States, after which usage began to decline, particularly among younger demographics who favored instant messaging, texting, and social media.
2010: Study Highlights Email's Critical Role in Workplace Productivity
A 2010 study revealed that 83% of U.S. knowledge workers considered email crucial for their success and productivity at work, underscoring its importance in the modern workplace.
2010: Decline in Email Use Among Young People
The year 2010 witnessed a notable decline in email use, particularly among Americans aged 12 to 17, indicating a generational shift towards newer forms of digital communication.
2011: 1.4 Billion Email Users Worldwide
By 2011, email had reached a global scale, with approximately 1.4 billion users worldwide and 50 billion non-spam emails sent daily, highlighting its significance as a communication tool.
2015: Messaging Apps Outpace Email Among Younger Android Users
A 2015 survey highlighted the growing disparity in communication preferences between age groups, revealing that Android users aged 13 to 24 were significantly more likely to use messaging apps than email compared to those over 45.
September 2017: Spam Email Increases
In September 2017, the proportion of spam to legitimate email saw a significant increase, reaching 59.56%, highlighting the growing challenge of spam despite existing mitigation efforts.
2021: Estimated Spam Email Percentage
In 2021, it was estimated that a staggering 85% of all email traffic was spam, indicating the persistent and evolving nature of this issue.
2045: RFCs 2045-2049 Introduce MIME for Multimedia Email
Representing a significant leap in email capabilities, RFCs 2045 through 2049, collectively known as Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), were introduced, enabling the inclusion of non-ASCII data and multimedia content attachments in email messages.
2047: RFC 2047: Enabling Non-ASCII Characters in Email
In 2047, RFC 2047 introduced a syntax for encoding characters beyond the US-ASCII set, paving the way for greater inclusivity and accessibility in email communication by allowing for the use of characters from various languages.
2049: RFCs 2045-2049 Introduce MIME for Multimedia Email
Representing a significant leap in email capabilities, RFCs 2045 through 2049, collectively known as Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), were introduced, enabling the inclusion of non-ASCII data and multimedia content attachments in email messages.