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In Paris next month, the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) is holding a HTML Mail Workshop to discuss the technical and business facets of using html in emails.

This is a significant event, because it shows that the people involved in formulating and setting web standards recognize that HTML in email is worthy of more time and effort than it has received in the past.

It's great news for everyone who has been frustrated by inconsistent support for html in email clients, and is tired of explaining that html can actually improve the experience for people receiving email if done right.

While the technical side (authoring, interoperability, security) is very important, non-technical submissions are also highly encouraged for this Workshop. We would like to hear from direct marketers, online retailers and companies using HTML emails as their default format, to gather requirements, hear triumphs and horror stories, and prioritize plans for future technical work.

If you or your clients have feedback on this topic, now would be a great time to get your voice heard, and make an impact in the future of html mail. The W3C is looking for short (1 to 5 page) papers from contributors, so it would be worth the time.

Papers are due in by April 21st, so if you have something to say, you'll want to get started soon. Check the worskhop page for submission details, as well as attendance information if you are able to make it in person.