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According to Yahoo! the response times for the new version, which is currently in beta only, are equivalent to a desktop email program. Typically, web based mail services have had a few seconds delay while the browser communicates with the remote servers. If true, it will give Yahoo! a significant advantage over competing Web-based systems from rivals who are often plagued by response delays.

The technology underlying the change comes from Oddpost, a company that Yahoo! bought in July 2004.

The new Yahoo! Mail includes

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features that bring it into line with competing products such as Google Mail and Hotmail. It also introduces a number of features normally associated with desktop-based email services such as drag and drop e-mail organisation and message preview.

Email search and management are major features in the new version. The Yahoo! Mail beta offers the ability to search email headers, bodies, and attachments as well as view multiple emails at the same time. It can also scroll through all message headers in a folder, rather than page by page
The company has also tried to make working with the system faster and easier.

Yahoo! Mail supports a number of keyboard shortcuts and right click menus as well as address auto complete and will automatically check and deliver new mail. The company says it also offers 'industry leading' protection from spam and viruses.

The new version will support the Firefox browser for the Mac and Windows and Internet Explorer for Windows only. Unfortunately, British users will have to wait to see the new version. The beta program is currently restricted to US customers only.