Calendars, clubs, and upgraded instant messaging are the latest must-haves. The best sites are more than just the sum of their features. Check out our top picks.
Calendars are a good example of how far Web portals have come and where they are heading.
Like e-mail, a calendar is a sticky application, a tool designed to keep you coming back. But calendars also show the power of integration. Chat room events, television listings, and all sorts of content can be pulled into the calendar and linked to still more information within the portal and without. E-mail reminders alert you to upcoming appointments. When Aunt Mary's birthday rolls around, the portal will know, because you entered the event on your calendar.