E-mail - what, how, where and why?

E-mail basically stands for electronic mail, and involves the sending of a message over the Internet from one computer (user) to another desired computer (domain). This may be done using an client such as Outlook Express or a browser based client such as Yahoo and Hotmail which are provided by online websites.

E-mailing requires connection to a mail server in order to manage the storage and distribution of the messages. When Emails are received they are sent from one users mail server to other server(s) for retrieval. Once the email is in the desired server the email client will take control and collect the mail.

Messages are usually sent using a SMPT sever (simple mail transfer protocol-port 25)

Messages are usually received using a PoP3 (post office protocol-port 110)

or a IMAP (Internet mail access protocol-port 143 server)

See diagram below*.

A typical Email system will allow you to...

• Receive and read mail
• Create and send mail (both text and also attachments like files and photos).
• View sent, deleted, draft and junk email
• Add contacts/email addresses for future reference
• Delete mail
  

Advantages of Email

• simple and easy to use
• reasonably fast
• provides permanent record (unlike telephone)
• can deliver wide range of messages, attachments, file types
• can deliver to almost any recipient(s), provided they have and Internet connection.
• can be informal or formal
• safe and secure (can't be read by others e.g. fax)

Disadvantages of Email

• often misused - spam mail can block up mailboxes
• viruses, worms and Trojans can be attached
• is only read when recipient downloads mail from server.

The Email system and its protocols POP3 and SMTP* (source-www.applix.com-http://www.applix.net/images/pop%20and%20smtp.jpg)