Looking for a better e-mail provider

I am currently looking for a better e-mail provider than the ones I have now. I need the following:

1. NO Spam filters. I have yet to see any spam filters used by ISPs that do not filter or delete legitimate e-mail. An optional spam filter that can be disabled COMPELTELY would be OK.

2. Decent security. I would not want to see the e-mail servers being hacked periodically.

3. High availablilty. Minimum downtime.

4. Top level provider integrity. I don't want the provider scanning my e-mail for keywords to send me spam or selling data reports to third parties, or allowing anyone to access my e-mail without a court order. Note: There is nothing in any of my e-mails that would cause trouble if it wound up on the front page of the New York Times, but that doesn't mean I would tolerate someone sending it to them.

5. A company that will be around for the long haul. Also, the ability to move my e-mail address to another provider without changing it, if necessary. I would expect to pay for domain registration if this is needed for this capability.

A pay service with a reasonalble fee would be fine. A decent amount of storage is also needed. Webmail access is required, as is the ability to use any e-mail client I choose. I don't need the functions of Exchange/Outlook however.


Any ideas would be appreciated. I am also considering setting up my own e-mail server as an option. I am fgetting tired os providers dumping e-mail they think is spam without even giving me the option of lookiing at it.

Note: GMail does not qualify on several of these points.

Thanks.

Update:

I just got off the phone with the "Support Tech". He said that he could not see why their e-mail software was dumping my e-mails, and that I was basically out of luck. Typical for a tech support call, unfortunately.

Since you're looking at purchasing your own domain, have you given any thought to hosting your own mail server?

TB

Yes, I have given some thought to this. However, it would be expensive (need dedicated hardware and $oftware), and time consuming to set up and maintain. I would also need to research which software to use, since I need to find something that won't content filter the e-mail. I'm not sure if the latest version of Exchange Server will qualify. Also, Exchange 2010 and SBS 2008 R2 are not yet available.

Did you ask the "support tech" if it was possible to white list your email address? I'd been having issues with my ISP's email spam scanners a year or so back and they were, at least temporarily, willing to do it for me.

Unfortunately, this e-mail system has a spam filter that is user configurable, and another that is not configurable even by the support techs. I actually have two e-mail addresses using two different systems that are affected by this issue. The second level support techs were not able to change the e-mail systems to allow all e-mail to pass through or to white list my e-mail address. Apparently, the Micro$oft programming approach - "we know what is best for you" - has been adopted by other software vendors. As is stands now, I cannot receive at least half of my e-mails that contain links, or automated e-mails from Microsoft, Tech Republic, shipping confirmation services, etc.

Update:

After going through 4 techs and the e-mail system administrator, they finally decided to take my suggestion of checking with the e-mail software vendor seriously. The issue appears to be resolved for simple e-mails with links at present. I still need to to some additional testing to see if my other bulk e-mails (non-spam) will go through. When I asked what the cause was, the tech mumbled something about a "postini issue". I'll post further updates later after more testing.

Meanwhile though, I am still seriously considering either another backup e-mail provider, or setting up my own mail server system. Any additional thoughts on these options would be appreciated.

Thanks.