E-mail finds its communication parallel in mail. E-mail is a faster, more cost effective form of communication since there is no postage. E-mail has changed the dynamics of communication. It allows for faster correspondence, so the resulting communication is shorter and more frequent. According to Alex Iskold in "Evolution of Communication: From Email to Twitter and Beyond," "the speed and quantity of communication created a qualitatively different communication medium."

E-mail originated in the 1960s and 70s with companies using mainframe and mini computers and with the United States Department of Defense ARPANET project. Today email has become more accessible, yet seems to be phasing out to other faster forms of communication such as instant messages, chat functions, and Twitter.