spmug 603 Longevity of Mail Accounts
Q. How long can you go without logging into Yahoo Mail before your
account is shut down? A. Free Web-based e-mail services like Yahoo Mail,
MSN Hotmail and Google Gmail now offer at least a gigabyte of mail
storage, but you do need to log in every once in awhile to keep the
account active. The exact length of time may vary by company, and you
should check with your particular mail service for specific details. In
the case of Yahoo, its Web site states that you need to check in at
least once every four months before your free account expires. People
who pay $20 a year for the premium service, Yahoo Mail Plus, do not have
to worry about their accounts expiring. (Yahoo Mail Plus subscribers get
more mailbox space, no advertisements on their messages, better spam
filters and other perks.) An account with Microsoft's MSN Hotmail
service may expire if not checked at least every 30 days. If you do not
log into a Gmail account for an extended period of time, Google will
mark your account as dormant and may delete the entire thing after nine
months if you have not used it.