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Lycos Mail offers users a simple email solution that comes in two packages. The application can handle all the typical email tasks, such as message folders, contact lists, forward, reply and other common functions. Accounts also come with advanced spam filter features and virus checking built into the application. Domain and address blocking gives the user more control over who they receive messages from. Lycos is available in a number of languages, including U.K. and U.S. English, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Korean and Mexican. Each account comes with a built in email search tool so users can find messages using keywords while filtering by the fields used in the search. Lycos Mail offers a very basic service that allows users to send, receive and save messages.

Lycos Mail is a part of a much larger company that was founded in 1995. The mail application has gone through a few changes, although it continues to offer a simple web based email solution to users. The site received some confused responses from users after a 2009 Tech Crunch article stated that the free mail service for U.S. users was being discontinued on February 15th of that year. Later it was corrected that this was not the case but was incorrectly posted and only pertained to users in the U.K.

Lycos Mail is not original or unique in really any way. The application is a bare bones email solution for internet users. Businesses and professionals would find the features to be lacking. Although individuals may not mind the simplicity of the application, there are many email solutions available that offer far more options and conveniences. Lycos Mail may be a decent solution for users who have no expectations for their email service.

Lycos Mail is a very simple email service, and it certainly looks the part. Users can find a layout that is very common with other email services applied to the email interface. A list of folders and options is presented down the left side while email messages appear near the middle and lower half of the page. Each item is displayed as basic text with minimal color variations. The application uses no unique visual elements, leaving the user with a bland interface.

A new user can create a Lycos Mail account by clicking the green “Register with Lycos” button found near the lower, left hand side of the homepage. To the right, the user can also choose to login with an existing Facebook, Google or Paypal account. Users who click the green button are presented with a pop up box that asks for the user’s desired Lycos address and a password. After submitting the form, the user is asked to choose their preferred Lycos subscription plan. The third step asks for the user’s country and a cell phone number to perform mobile phone verification. This must be completed before the user can finish registration and access their new email account.

Users can choose between a free or paid Lycos Mail account. The free account includes up to 3 GBs of storage space, advertisements, advanced spam filters, virus checking feature and domain and address blocking tools. The Mail Plus account includes up to 5 GBs of storage space, no advertisements and POP 3/IMAP access. The Mail Plus membership is available in different durations. Users can choose to pay $4.95 per month, $19.95 per year or $49.95 for three years.

Lycos Mail (mail.lycos.com) is a watered down email solution that can be described as somewhat lackluster. Individual users who do not use their email account often or do not desire modern features may prefer Lycos Mail, but even then there are plenty of simple solutions that look better. The application doesn’t do much for professionals. Personal email users are going to be much more likely to find appeal in Lycos Mail than anyone else.

• Users can choose between a free or paid membership plan
• Email can be accessed using Paypal, Google or Facebook credentials
• All basic email functions are included in each account
• Virus and spam protection tools are built in
• Contacts can be added to the email address book

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