Just doing my eTax and finding my way around myGov website, Interesting to note that this includes a digital mailbox for government related communications.
Working for Oz Post in early 2000, there was lots of talk about declining mail volumes and the bleak future of Australia Post’s letter delivery business.
I remember having many discussions with anybody prepared to listen (which weren’t many) about Post setting up a digital mailbox for every customer. The idea would have been to charge large volume senders, primarily government department and utilities for access to this digital mailbox. User could then choose to have their mail forwarded to whatever email address they were using at the time.
Remember, early 2000 was in the days before Gmail (which became available around 2007). Hotmail and yahoo had been around for a few years but most people were still using email accounts linked to their ISPs. With ISPs still consolidating people were changing their email addresses almost as frequently as their underwear, and hence had no permanent, fixed digital address.
Australia Post launched its Digital Mailbox in 2011. But I think that horse had bolted and take-up is probably not huge.
I relate this story only because it provides an interesting insight into importance of timing in the digital age. and the importance of capturing market share early. Often the internet, as divers as it is, creates virtual monopolies for services and the first one to capture a signifcant market share will grow to the exclusion of all other.
For example, realesate.com, ebay/gumtree and facebook and google pretty much dominate their respective markets. They face virtually no competition.
