Looking for a better e-mail provider

[jdc2000]

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.

[jdc2000]

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.

[TropicalBound]

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

TB

[jdc2000]

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.

[fink]

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.

[jdc2000]

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.

[jdc2000]

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.