AOL's Postmaster department takes a hit...will email suffer?

Sadly, it looks like the cost-cutting measures over at AOL (laying off around 1400 staff members) have hit their postmaster department particularly hard. Hopefully this won't lead to any problems with delivery, but if it does, I'm willing to bet that response time to inquiries and resolution will be affected.

This is sad, but not entirely surprising. The work that goes on behind the scenes to send and receive email isn't particularly sexy. Nor is it often even noticed... unless, of course, there is a problem. But it can turn scary when that lack of visibility leads those controlling the finances to determine it is a logical place for cuts. I know AOL just completed their switch-over to a new MTA, so maybe this was part of the plan all along: Replace people with software.

As those old IBM commercials stated "There is no magic pixie dust." Let's hope they've kept enough qualified people on-hand to keep everything running smoothly.

I've always been impressed with the professionalism, responsiveness and ease of working with representatives from AOL, and wish those affected by the layoffs the best of luck.

Kris Dougherty | Deliverability & Operations