There already is a class system.

Email marketing has clearly arrived as a key marketing and CRM strategy for most companies. But in 2006 those companies that don't align the proper resources and technology to take their program to the next level will find their competitors leaving them behind in the 'inbox' of their customers and subscribers.

Three or four years ago, [e-mail marketing] was quick, easy and cheap. Now, it requires a lot more sophistication, knowledge, and dedication ... CAN-SPAM took a lot of practitioners by surprise ... some large companies actually put their e-mail projects on hold.

While marketers have clearly recognized that they have delivery challenges, they also are not allocating the necessary resources or taking the longer-term steps needed to minimize blocking and filtering of their e-mails.