Rich Internet applications (RIAs), or web applications, are those web sites that blur the boundary

between the web browser and standard desktop applications. Managing your e-mail through

web sites such as Google Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail is every bit

as simple and intuitive as using a desktop e-mail client such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.

Web page refreshes are not expected when performing actions, and if a new message is received

by the mail server, we expect to see it appear in our inbox immediately.