Email : outsource or inhouse?

Thanks to ResourceShelf for pointing out this story:
When E-Mail Is Outsourced
http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/11/27/email
This looks at some of the issues institutions are now facing (although US focused) in deciding how to move ahead with email and other services. Microsoft and Google have both marketed to the higher education sector and offer the benefits of integration. But the choice facing institutions is not simple and raises a number of questions relating to:

• cost/value
• role of IT services
• privacy and ownership of data
• advertising
• the value of an ".edu" or ".ac.uk" email address
• capacity to innovate
• support required
• ability to influence priorities for development.

Relates to a story on BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6741797.stm) earlier this year and to the move towards "software as services" mentioned in my posting on 11th October (http://ali-stuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/software-on-demand.html).