In a previous article we discussed MailStart.com and WebBox.com's service allowing access to your e-mail through the WorldWide Web. Unfortunately, WebBox only uses the standard e-mail protocols, which does not provide access to proprietary e-mail systems such as the service on America Online (AOL).

Fortunately, since AOL Mail 2.0 several years ago, America Online has offered its members web based e-mail access. Now you can send and receive your AOL e-mail directly from the web without using the America Online software. If you're at work, on the road or away from your regular computer, all you need is an Internet connection and a web browser to read and send your America Online e-mail. Just go to aol.com.

There is no additional charge — AOL Web Mail is offered as part of your America Online membership.

To protect your account, America Online will automatically log you out of AOL Web Mail if you don't view or send a message frequently. Please keep this time limit in mind when writing messages.