The Death of the Email

Some huge companies this last month have decided to ditch email as a modern form of communication between colleagues. This has led to a lot of speculation as to whether email is in fact now outdated as a means to exchange information in the office.

A lot of factors prompted this change however the major reason seems to surround the time consumed by employees. Many big business executives claim their employees spend up to a third of their time answering emails, using precious pounds that could be spent on them simply doing their job.

This news seem to coincide with the rising cost of the first class stamp, as very few of us now use snail mail to keep in touch with friends and family, it does beg the question of where we'll go next. If email is to become defunct as a speedy way to keep in touch, just how will we communicate in the future?

However it's not only the huge corporations that are seeking to remove this once revolutionary form of communication from their everyday working lives, those under the age of twenty five see email as yesterday's news, throwing it onto the retro trash pile along with VHS video, cassette players and Ceefax.

This new generation see email as a slow means of communication, preferring an instant message that is answered in seconds rather than minutes or hours. Of course teenagers can use the myriad of social networks to keep up to date with their friends, and as Mark Zuckerberg rubs his hands in glee it seems his wish has finally come true.

Facebook

Although Facebook has an email facility, lately this has been coupled with the express means of instant messaging, turning any email into a chat that has the option to be answered instantly if online. With many documenting their daily lives through photos and status updates, is there really any need to write a lengthy letter to expand on the personal news?

Skype

Skype has found its way into the homes and offices of many, with video calls and instant messaging users can choose how to communicate. Messages can be sent direct to a contacts phone which leads us directly to...

Texting

The ultimate form of communication, with contracts abound no longer do teenagers have to worry about using ten pence every time they send a text. As smart phones increase in popularity, we can now simply speak into the phone, hoping it recognises our accent before typing the text for us.

These substitute forms of contact are obviously ideal for a teen, but as corporations remove email do they really want employees communicating through Facebook and Twitter or fiddling with their phones?

One company has found the answer, using a platform similar to Wikipedia, they've constructed a way colleagues can update information (without any banal chat or pleasantries involved), keeping them working whilst removing the small talk. Google Docs seems to be another favourite for sharing work and updating files, but although the alternatives are legion, we are afraid to announce that even the trendiest of teenagers will indefinitely find themselves using this prehistoric form of contact if they ever hope to secure employment.

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