Choosing Between IMAP and POP3 Mail Servers

Netscape Messenger can work with two types of servers: IMAP and POP3. If your Internet Service provider supports both, these descriptions may help you choose which one to use:

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

Advantages: Your messages and any changes to them stay on your server, saving local disk space. Also, you always have access to an updated mailbox, and you can get your mail from multiple locations. Performance on a modem is faster, since you initially download message headers only, and you can synchronize specific mail folders for offline use.

Disadvantages: Not all ISPs support IMAP.

Post Office Protocol (POP3)

Advantages: Your messages are downloaded to your local computer all at once, thereby making offline reading easier. You can specify whether to keep copies of the messages on the server. Most ISPs currently support POP3.

Disadvantages: You must synchronize your local inbox with your server's mailbox. This can result in downloading new messages over and over each time you connect. If you use more than one computer, messages might reside on one or the other, but not both. POP3 doesn't work as well as IMAP over a slow link connection. Also, you can't access all mail folders from multiple locations.

Note: You can have multiple IMAP servers or one POP3 server, but not both types.

You can check or change the server type through the Mail Server Property Panel .

Using the Mail & Newsgroups Setup Program

If you have just installed Messenger or have yet to set your preferences for sending and receiving mail, you will be prompted to use the Mail & Newsgroups setup program (Windows and Mac OS only) when you first open your Inbox.

The setup program asks you to provide settings for required preferences. If you do not know a setting, you must exit the program and consult your Internet service provider (ISP) or help desk. You can always change these settings later by choosing Preferences from the Edit menu and selecting the Mail & Newsgroup Preferences category.

To use the Mail & Newsgroups setup program:

  1. Be sure to type the following information exactly as it's given to you. Match uppercase and lowercase characters. Click Forward or Back to move through the panels. To cancel your changes click the window's close box.
  2. Your user name on the mail server. If you are using an ISP, use your login name.
  3. Your password for the mail server. If you log in to an ISP, use your login password.
  5. Your reply-to or return address. Your return address is usually your user name combined with your site and domain names. Example: chrisk@drums.org
  6. Your real name: Netscape Messenger includes it with your user name when you send a message.
  8. The name of the mail server that delivers your messages, and its type: POP3 or IMAP server (most ISP mail servers use POP3).
  9. The name of the mail server that sends your messages, which is also known as your SMTP host. The name of your SMTP host may not have been reported to you in your ISP information or by your system administrator. Your SMTP host is usually the same as your POP3 or IMAP host.
  10. The name and path of your local folder.
  11. Click OK.