<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2010-11-10</periodOfReport>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0001142701</issuerCik>        <issuerName>UNITED ONLINE INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNTD</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001394842</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>Jordan Paul</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>21301 BURBANK BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Personnel Officer</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-11-10</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>48455</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>7.083</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>166667</value>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average sale price per share. The actual sales prices ranged from a low of $7.06 to a high of $7.10. The Reporting Person will provide upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer or any security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>        <footnote id="F2">Includes 5,000 shares subject to a restricted stock unit award granted on February 15, 2007 that will be issued as those units vest.</footnote>        <footnote id="F3">Includes 16,667 shares subject to a restricted stock unit award granted on February 15, 2008 that will be issued as those units vest.</footnote>        <footnote id="F4">Includes 45,000 shares subject to a restricted stock unit award granted on February 15, 2010 that will be issued as those units vest.</footnote>        <footnote id="F5">Includes 358 shares acquired under the United Online Employee Stock Purchase Plan on October 29, 2010.</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>/s/ Paul Jordan</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2010-11-11</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>