There are several "free" e-mail services.   Juno does not require
internet access; it has access to some 400 local access phone numbers
through which one subscribes.   You need to have Windows 3.x or Windows
95; they will send you a disk for app. $9.00.  (http://www.juno.com;  or,
1-800-654-JUNO).  Hotmail requires internet access
(http://www.hotmail.com).  You can change internet providers without
changing your e-mail address.  With web based e-mail you can access
anywhere in the world that has internet access.    RocketMail
(http://www.rocketmail.com) is web based.   With this one I understand
you can organize e-mail more efficiently into folders.  It also offers
"spam control."    Another company is USA .Net (http://www.usa.net) has
NET@ddress  which I understand can offer access without the Web.  I don't
know all the pluses or minuses for using each one but with Juno and
Hotmail, you are sent advertising which they sell to support themselves.
I am on JUNO and have had no problems.