Yahoo!Xtra
From New Zealand Connections
Contents |
Introduction
Yahoo!Xtra is the result of Xtra, the largest New Zealand Internet Service provider, forming a partnership with Yahoo, the largest email provider, to provide value-added services to its customers. Yahoo!Xtra now provides many unique services to its customers, which are provided 'free of charge' to Telecom New Zealand and Xtra dial up and broadband subscribers.
History
Before Yahoo!Xtra, Xtra in 2001, partnered with Microsoft's MSN service and XtraMSN was created. From 1 March 2007, Telecom (Xtra) chose to end the relationship, and joined with Yahoo!7, to form the new Yahoo!Xtra. Users visiting xtramsn.co.nz are now given a choice to visit Yahoo!Xtra or MSN NZ.
Features
- 10 subaccounts for an Xtra account, each with individual self contained logins. Previously only aliases were offered and separate accounts were introduced at a cost.
- A new webmail interface (from Yahoo! Mail) that replaced the old Xtra Mail interface. The 'Yahoo!Xtra Mail Pro' interface allows one to interact with the service much like a computer based email client with support for drag and drop, search, and keyboard shortcuts.
- Unlimited mailbox storage. Previously mailboxes were limited to 100mb.
- Improved SPAM filter, which was personalised.
- Yahoo!Xtra Bubble - a personalised page, similar to iGoogle. This allows an individual to customise what services they would like to see and multiple pages can be created. News, weather, and RSS feeds can all be added.
- Flickr Pro - Xtra customers receive free access to Flickr Pro, which does not have any limitations exhibited in the normal version such as maximum uploads.
- 1GB briefcase. Users may store information in the briefcase, acting like a private online locker.
- Security - a security suite is to be released soon.
Many of these services were a first in the New Zealand arena, which set Xtra apart from the Internet Service providers who provided a basic site and limited email capacities.
Details can be found on the yourbubble website.
Criticisms
Its positive intentions were however marred by negative reports of email woes that were the result of an email service migration to Yahoo!7 servers in Australia. High profile TV show Campbell Live aired grievances of Xtra customers losing emails, receiving influxes of spam, or having legitimate emails being marked as spam. Concerns about emails being stored in Australia were also aired.
Bulk email providers who had previously been able to send large amounts of mail were impacted when Yahoo!Xtra implemented some 'best practice' rules on incoming mail. Xtra has since set up a page discussing methods of avoiding mail being marked incorrectly as spam for bulk mailers.
