Put Up or Shut Up

AOL and a little-known company called Goodmail caused a firestorm last month when they announced that AOL would implement Goodmail’s certified e-mail service.

Under the scheme, AOL will charge senders a fraction of a cent per e-mail to guarantee their e-mail will be delivered with graphics and links intact.

Supporters say the arrangement will add much-needed economic discipline to commercial e-mail. But critics were quick to blast the deal as a