Yahoo axed its Classic Mail along with other older versions of its e-mail service. Starting June 3, users will get a new layout and have to agree with an updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
The new design was rolled out last December but there are still existing users who have not updated to the new interface. The company has sent notifications to its registered users but there are still those who want to stick with the e-mail interface that they are used to. Basically, users are required to upgrade or give up their e-mail accounts.
"When you upgrade, you will be accepting our Communications Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This includes the acceptance of automated content scanning and analyzing of your communications content, which Yahoo! uses to deliver product features, relevant advertising, and abuse protection," the Yahoo Mail Help article stated.
Users who do not want to use the new layout of the e-mail service can close the account or use another internet message access protocol (IMAP). Those who opt to use an IMAP can escape the new layout by using Mac Mail, Microsoft Outlook or other applications but this does not save them from the new TOS.
The Help article also state that Yahoo Mail users can opt out of advertisements by using the Yahoo's Ad Manager. Utilizing the tool, users can click an opt out button to remove all contextual ads or pick specific categories that they do not wish to see through the ads.
Mail Plus account holders who do not want to continue the service can cancel their subscription and receive a prorated refund.
Josh Constine of Techcrunch noted that Yahoo gives its e-mail users a cleaner interface in exchange of extended permission to scan their correspondence so it can deliver related ads. The report also said that while users are not pleased with the new seemingly privacy-invading TOS, Gmail has been doing it long before.
"Ad targeting in Gmail is fully automated, and no humans read your email or Google Account information in order to show you advertisements or related information," the Gmail explained how its ads work. It is basically the same as Yahoo but with the Google e-mail service, users still has a way to avoid the ads by using the basic HTML view or use POP or IMAP services.
