[briandear]

How poor are people that a low cost email service is too expensive? $5 a month for Europeans or Americans would be nothing. Think how much poor people spend on stamps.

[freetanga]

In many cases is the expectation of the service being free…

If someone told you that checking the weather app is .50 usd per query, you probably would try to find a different alternative, as you expect it to be free.

[sp332]

Poor enough that they don’t have a bank account to pay for the email service.

[ejb999]

and yet we assume they are wealthy enough to own a mobile phone and/or computer/tablet to access that email.

[sp332]

Public libraries https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32304320 Subsidised phones and internet access https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers

[iAMkenough]

Contrary to popular belief, most homeless people have cellphones.

[ejb999]

well then however they are affording a mobile phone and the monthly service, they can probably figure out how to pay $5/month for email if they don't want to use one of the free options.

[b112]

People can have an older phone, given free, cast off by people buying the latest-and-greatest, and use public wifi for everything. The phone can literally be free.

This requires no monthly service.