Fastmail
Fastmail is an independent, paid email service headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It provides email, calendar, and contacts services using its own proprietary software and infrastructure.
Overview
Fastmail distinguishes itself from free, advertising-supported email providers through its commitment to user privacy and data security, as well as its focus on performance and reliability. The service is subscription-based, offering various plans with different storage capacities and features.
History
The company was originally founded in 1999 as Optimality Pty Ltd, offering a webmail service built with PHP and running on FreeBSD. Initially, the service was free, but later transitioned to a paid subscription model to ensure its long-term sustainability. In 2010, the company rebranded as Fastmail Pty Ltd. In 2013, Fastmail was acquired by Opera Software, but in 2015, the original Fastmail team repurchased the company, restoring its independence.
Features
Key features of Fastmail include:
- Custom Domain Support: Users can use their own domain names for email addresses.
- Ad-Free Experience: Fastmail does not display advertisements to its users.
- Advanced Email Filtering: Powerful filtering rules allow users to automatically manage incoming emails.
- Spam Protection: Robust spam filtering technology protects users from unwanted email.
- Calendar and Contacts: Integrated calendar and contacts applications are included with the service.
- IMAP, SMTP, and JMAP Support: Supports standard email protocols, as well as the more modern JMAP protocol.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Enhances account security with two-factor authentication.
- Mobile Apps: Dedicated mobile apps are available for iOS and Android.
Technology
Fastmail utilizes its own custom-built software and infrastructure. The company is known for its early adoption and support of the JMAP (JSON Meta Application Protocol) standard, a modern alternative to IMAP and SMTP.
Privacy and Security
Fastmail emphasizes user privacy and security. The company is subject to Australian privacy laws. It does not sell user data to third parties and provides tools for users to control their data.