E-mail, the computer industry's most rapidly growing application, represents a new frontier in the world of communications. Organizations face a strategic imperative to buy or build robust messaging infrastructures that integrate e-mail and electronic commerce traffic. This strategic imperative is driven by globalization, the emergence of the information economy, and social changes which are in turn driving the "reinvention" of large organizations. This book explores the e-mail markets, both for private e-mail products and public e-mail services, noting how they are following industry and technology trends. It describes e-mail technology and standards, with extensive coverage of LAN e-mail, host e-mail, and e-mail integration environments as well as public e-mail (X.400 and Internet) and directory services. It also provides practical advice to users on strategies for deploying e-mail networks. Highlights discusses the strategic importance of e-mail and electronic commerce to organizations; examines the booming, competitive private messaging marketplace, introducing the key players by market categories; explains X.400, Internet-based public service, and X.500 directory standards and architecture; covers LAN e-mail and e-mail integration backbone products from vendors; discusses EDI, work flow automation, and electronic commerce technologies in the context of e-mail; and advises users on effective organizational and technical e-mail usage and integration strategies.