8. E-Mail sucks for sending files, and still, that has become pretty much the primary use for e-mail nowadays.

It has size limitations, still needs to convert the entire file to text like in 1970 (making it 30% bigger), and you never know if a specific file will ever reach the recipient.

9. SPAM. Do I need to say more? False positives, false negatives. E-Mail is intrinsically extremely unreliable. Oh, and even your delivery failure notifications might disappear in your SPAM folder.

In business, we will always have the need to message, whether that’s privately or in communities. Email, however, is a specific individual-oriented, store-and-forward tool modeled after an outmoded distribution system, paper. Just like the construct of music “albums” existed primarily because you had to distribute physical discs. Today, albums are not really needed.

Similarly, messaging no longer needs to be transmitted via email. What’s even better? How about a suite of collaboration tools best for each type of message (private message, status update, file sharing, co-authoring, polling, etc.) and then messaging that’s both contextual (i.e., linked) to the business process, application or system of record and organized by activity (department, project, etc.), while fully searchable and securely discoverable.

That’s the future of messaging.
sg
Check out http://www.Qontext.com

Didn’t see Arlen’s comment or your reply before I wrote my comment…

I agree that not everyone is clued into the downside of email and your writing merits continuation.

Check out the Email Charter that people like @danielpink have been signing in the US

http://emailcharter.org/index.html

@dan_steer

Now I want solutions. Where should I click?

I didn’t see an obvious link to tools for social collaboration that solve these 7 problems, but maybe I’m missing the point. Do you suggest to “drop” email and use real sharing platforms?

About to click around to see what you have in mind and looking forward to the “delete dilemma”.

Keep up the good work!
@dan_steer

Email will gradually get usurped as contextual conversation tools get adopted. And email will be left filling whatever void continues to exist.

I’m surprised, though, how many do not “‘know’ what the problem is”. A common question I hear, “Why do I need social? Email works fine.” Email is so engrained that many (most?) aren’t even aware of their pain. Walk into your supermarket and see how many products are still using trans fats. Some people have “known” about the dangers of trans fats for decades.
Samir.