mailround.com

Of all the 'get paid online' experiences, mailround works the best (apart, of course from Ciao.com). It didn't stop like many others, and probably won't.

Basically, when you join mailround, you have to download a little program, which puts adverts on your outgoing and incoming emails. The more you mail, the more rewards you get. Every month you are assigned a certain amount of money as a reward, which can be exchanged for vouchers when you have enough credit, or cashed if you make it to £50. I'm a moderate email user, and tend to get a £10 voucher every few months. Vouchers available include Marks and Spencers, Amazon, Pizza Hut and Tescos.

The adverts are in the form of 'stamps', which go at the side of the emails. To be honest, the stamps are unobstrusive, and actually liven up the email a lot of the time. Also, because you can set areas of interest for yourself and your freinds, the adverts are quite relevant - I've often actually clicked on them and been interested in the sites they take you too. Plus, you have the option of not stamping mail, say if its to your boss.

I use Outlook for my email, and the program works fine. My only complaint is that for some reason when I'm using mailround I can't access my mail through telnet, which I use to get my university mail sometimes. This probably won't be a problem for many people, but it may be. Also, I have to reinstall it sometimes because if it can't contact one of your mail servers, it stops stamping the mail on that account forever.

But, the few problems aside, the whole idea is great - vouchers or money for doing nothing.