The average number of emails sent every week by each web users in China dropped from 10 in July 2000 to 8.2 in July 2001 to 5.3 now,according to the latest report by the China Internet Information Center.

"The decrease is due to a decline of the number of free email boxes available, a more rational use of web resource and an increase of various ways of communication," said Wang Enhai, an official with the center.

Many websites accelerated their pace to charge email service and web users began to give up superfluous email boxes.

The average number of email boxes owned by every web users dropped from 3.9 two years ago to 2.6 last year, and to 1.6 now.

(Shanghai Daily August 9, 2002)