The phrase Bulk Email is often looked upon as having the same meaning as the word "spam". Typically, the phrase bulk email is used by low cost email marketing service providers, the phrase "Opt In Email" or "Permission Based" are used by larger email marketing vendors who primary target mid-size to fortune 500 clients with larger marketing budgets. In the late 90's a new phrase "opt-in bulk email" started showing up the on websites selling email marketing services.