Once again, a decision on upgrading Webmail has not yet been reached, and officials say there is no timetable for the switch.

"We are working as quickly and as carefully as we can," School of Arts and Sciences Vice Dean of Administration and Finance Ramin Sedehi wrote yesterday in an e-mail.

The University is choosing between Microsoft and Google to replace the current Webmail servers.

Sedehi said that, because Penn is one of the first universities to outsource its e-mail, "there is no template to work from, and there are a number of details that need to be discussed."

He added that SAS Webmail has been stabilized since its last breakdown in December, and the school now has a contingency plan in place if the server were to crash again.

"I understand that students are eager to hear the outcome of these negotiations," Sedehi said. "But we are simply taking the time to do it right and to make sure that any agreement we enter into represents the best interests of our students and the University."

Sedehi once again would not disclose any details about what points were still in negotiation because he did not want to compromise the University's bargaining position.

He did add, however, that the University is "making progress in regards to some of [its] concerns."

University officials had said last spring that a company would be picked to pilot the program by the beginning of the fall semester.

That deadline had been extended to last November and then to the beginning of January.

After a provider had still not been picked by the beginning of this semester, Sedehi said on Jan. 5 that a decision would come within "a few weeks."

Students tired with the many Webmail breakdowns that have plagued SAS in the last few years say they just wish the University would make a decision.

"It is frustrating," College sophomore Jay Patel said. "But it's just the way universities work."

As for the Computing Advisory Board - made up of students from different schools who met regularly to evaluate the project - College sophomore and board member Natalie Pitcher said they wish they were kept apprised of the ongoing talks.

"We haven't received any sort of update on where negotiations stand," Pitcher said.

Last November, just before Thanksgiving break, the Computing Advisory Board met and presented its advice to University administrators.

Pitcher said they were evenly split between Google and Microsoft. However, a few stipulations were attached - one of which was that if Google could not provide Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) support, then the board would definitely want Microsoft's service, Pitcher said.

IMAP is an internet protocol which allows users to use a desktop-based client like Microsoft Outlook to read their e-mail. It is widely considered to be better than the standard offering Google provides, POP3.