The largest computer software developer in the world, Microsoft, has announced plans to open up the format of the data files used by its e-mail program Outlook. The software giant said it would provide full documentation on the format so non-Microsoft developers can interrogate and use it. Microsoft said it was making the move because data portability was becoming increasingly important to customers and clients. No deadline was given for when the documentation effort will be complete. This move has come in a market which increasingly is using Mac’s and therefore open source programmes are of increased importance. Search marketing firms will also be interested, as they use the mail facility in their day to day work. Also, ethical search marketing companies will take note, because the move by Microsoft shows that they are willing to take a more liberal approach in the market.

Microsoft already provides two ways to get at the data Outlook and Exchange servers store about e-mail messages, contacts and calendar entries in a format known as .pst. However, that information can only be accessed if Outlook is installed on a user's desktop or laptop computer. The new standard mail facility for Windows Vista and Windows 7 is called Windows Mail, which has a simpler format but not quite the power or extensiveness which Outlook provided. A search marketing company will now choose whether they will keep their Outlook programmes, or switch to a new operating system and transfer it over. The new documentation effort will provide full information about the .pst file format and remove the need to have Outlook installed to get at it.

When the documents are complete, Microsoft said they would be free to make it possible for anyone to use the .pst format "on any platform and in any tool, without concerns about patents, and without the need to contact Microsoft in any way". Microsoft said it was already talking to key customers and industry experts to ensure the information it provides is useful.  The move could see novel e-mail, contact and calendar clients that work on many diverse devices. There is no specific time frame for the handover, but Microsoft engineers are working on the project as we speak. A prospective search marketing company will be looking for sites to promote the new look Outlook so that the general public can be made aware of the changes which are taking place.

Mr Lorimer said the move was taken as part of Microsoft's commitment to Interoperability Principles that it announced in 2008. Microsoft is not alone in pursuing a more open agenda for its products. Many firms now provide detailed interfaces to their data or software so others can find out how they work and put that information to their own ends. For instance, in September Google set up a Data Liberation Front - a team of engineers whose job it is to ensure that its users can get at their data and do what they want with it. With the arrival of Google on the browser and operating system scene, the big players in the market are likely to be worried and try to cover their backs sufficiently. Search marketing will also be another factor for other providers to consider.

There are 4 main ways of getting broadband in the United Kingdom.

ADSL

One of these methods is ADSL. In 2004, 90 per cent of homes and businesses were connected to BT Wholesale’s ADSL (asymmetrical digital supply line) network, but a small percentage live too far away from their local exchange for the technology to work. Now in 2009, this figure is much greater and ever increasing. Rural or semi-rural communities, with larger towns and cities achieving excellent coverage, are the areas of the UK which struggle to receive the faster and more reliable coverage. More than one hundred Internet service providers, including BT and tiscali, sell ADSL networks, and there are nearly 2.5 million users in Britain. A 2Mbps (mega-bytes-per-second) connection (about three times as fast as dial-up internet) costs approximately £16 per month, and a 8Mbps connection can cost as much as £41 per month. Virgin now offers a staggering 50Mbps deal in London, which is obviously costly. Bulldog and Easynet offer wholesale ADSL services that are much faster than BT’s, but generally these are available only in major towns and cities.

Cable

Cable broadband is the natural successor to dial-up Internet access. It is the technology that ensures that every household really can be connected to the information super highway at super fast speeds. As the name suggests, broadband allows for large amounts of information to be transmitted along fibre optic cables because it offers wide bandwidth capabilities. This is the method of broadband connection which is becoming ever popular, partly due to the wireless potential of the technology.

Broadband fixed wireless access

Technologies such as 802.11b (also known as Wi-Fi) have the potential to bring broadband to less-populated areas where it doesn’t make economic sense to roll out a fixed-line network. Around 50 wireless Internet service providers are being set up or are already in operation around the country, often targeting places where ADSL and cable aren’t available. These services require a wireless modem, but are often priced competitively compared to other connections.

Satellite

This is connection to the Internet through a signal beamed into a dish attached to your home. This is usually high-speed and excellent for remote locations. Satellite broadband works anywhere in Britain, but a two-way connection is more expensive than other broadband services, on top of which the equipment can cost more than £1,000 plus. Some Regional Development Agencies do provide subsidies to cushion the blow. One-way satellite connections that give only a fast down stream link from the Internet are more affordable, but also require a dedicated phone line to send data upstream.