Question about @?????

[Kat]

Hi everybody in forum!

I have been using internet for long time, especially e-mail. But I don't recognize the reason why "@" is used in e-mail address.
Now, I just come up with a doubt about this sign "@". I really wonder where it comes from, what its origin is, and what its name is. Don't you feel the same.

I think all of you will have some ideas about this sign "@". Why not share together!

Looking for your responses.

Kat

[nit_bpg]

Good evening, Kat!!
I'm quite interested in ur Topic.
As a matter of fact, we use this @ most of the time especially when we talk about E-mail address. But the problem is we dun know the meaning of this @, right?
So let me give u some idea then.
@ = At. The reason that they use this symbol, @, is to join the name of a person or a department of an organization to to a DOMAIN NAME, in order to make an email address.

Yeah, dun laugh at me if my answer is quite funny  :lol:
It's just an idea.  
BYE

[Tdol]

The symbol @ has been around for some time, but wasn't used much.  Some used it in estimates:

50 items @ 5 dollars = $250

Ray Tomlinson was the first to use it in email to separate the user from their machine, which meant that it was possible to exchange messages between different computers.

[Kat]

Hi Tdol and nit_bpg,

Thanks for your brilliant ideas.
They are interesting to know, quite new to me. I have learnt new things now.

However, still welcome other ideas! If you have don't hesitate to share with us.

Regards,

Kat

[Tdol]

If you want a full article on Mr Tomlinson and @, try here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Tomlinson