It uses the internet as a network medium. The store and forward mechanisms of electronic mail enable the messages to be transmitted as the communications channels are available, and the recipient reads the message when it is convenient. It is not necessary for both the sending and receiving workstations to be operational at the same time. The recipient is not necessarily restricted by physical location or time. The recipient can access his mail where and when it is most convenient.
Mail is also reasonably hardware independent.
It is possible to send and receive mail on a wide variety of platforms. The ability to send electronic documents by mail will provide an advantageous mechanism for the delivery of electronic documents to the desktop of many end users, using a familiar and convenient software environment. Components of Ariel already solve technical issues in scanning, viewing and printing software, particularly relating to multipage files and standard header information. The project will be undertaken in a number of phases. If Phase 1 proves the feasibility of the project, the development phases will then be negotiated with the intention of development occurring during 1996.