DATA POINTS: PERMISSION-BASED E-MAIL.

Although spammers get most of the blame for overloading e-mail mailboxes, consumers have currently "opted in" for almost 15% of total message volume in the U.S., according to data compiled by eMarketer, an Internet market research firm. Within another two years, eMarketer predicts, the opt-in percentage will rise to 21.9%, while total annual permission-based e-mail volume will reach 227 billion messages a year-- almost four times the number of messages that marketers sent during 2000.

The eMail Marketing Repoprt, 5/01, eMarketer, 821 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003; 212/677-6300. Web: www.emarketer.com.

"PERMISSION MARKETING" author Seth Godin on e-mail lists: "The best way to make your list worthless is to sell it. The future is, 'The list is mine and it's a secret.'" (Quoted in The Industry Standard, 3/19/01)

MONTANA senator Conrad Burns on the federal anti-spam bill he recently introduced: "For many people, spam is ruining their online experience and their ability to use e-mail. It's high time Congress acts to protect consumers from overzealous marketers." (Quoted in iMarketing News, 5/7/01)

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION chairman Michael Powell on the "digital divide" between PC owners and non-owners: "I think there is a Mercedes divide. I'd like to have one; I can't afford one. I'm not meaning to be completely flip about this. I think it's an important social issue. But it shouldn't be used to justify the notion of essentially the socialization of the deployment of the infrastructure." (Quoted in Interactive Week, 2/19/01)

MASSACHUSETTS SOFTWARE COUNCIL executive director Joyce Plotkin on the future of her organization's "Dot.Commonwealth" slogan: "We have to rethink everything we do every year. This is certainly on the list." (Quoted in The Wall Street Journal, 4/26/01)

MICROSOFT group vice president Jim Allchin on the open-source development model: "Open source is an intellectual property destroyer. I can't imagine something that could be worse... for the software business." (Quoted in eWeek, 3/5/01)