AOL, Yahoo to Charge Spam Filter Fees

At least two online services will be introducing features that would allow e-mail marketers to pay to ensure their messages don’t end up being blocked as spam. Both AOL and Yahoo plan to start offering the service within the next several months.

In exchange for paying a small fee of a quarter of a cent to one cent per message, the sender would be guaranteed delivery and the e-mail would be marked as legitimate in the header.

BetaNews – AOL, Yahoo to Charge Filter Bypass Fees

So-called white lists have been tried before to stop the spread of spam: allowing e-mail only from users on a special list. AOL’s system offers companies the right to buy preferential treatment–on AOL sender’s e-mail will go straight to users’ main mailboxes, bypassing spam filters.

CNet – AOL’s penny post

Despite the low fees, the service is likely to generate huge amounts of money for AOL and Yahoo. In return for the fee, AOL and Yahoo will not send the messages through spam traps and filters that typically strip out all images and weblinks in an e-mail.

BBC – E-mail charging plan to beat spam

Are companies really ready to start paying to ensure that their email gets directly to their customers? If AOL and Yahoo have their say in it, those who wish to send mail to AOL and Yahoo clients will not have a choice.

DailyTech – AOL And Yahoo Ask Companies To Pay Up For E-Mail Deliveries