Want to know if your new iPhone has POP or IMAP email? Looking at the phone puzzled, you wonder what is POP and IMAP? Post Office Protocol (POP) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is technology that dictates how your email is processed. One set of technology stores messages on your computer, while the other stores them on an ISP computer. Having a few tips can help you determine which is right for you.
What is POP?
Post office protocol (also called POP) downloads email directly to your computer. When this happens, the mail is deleted from the ISP server. This process occurs to prevent you from reading the same email messages again when you access another computer. The benefit of POP mail is since messages are downloaded directly to your computer, you can read them even if you aren’t connected to the internet.
What is IMAP?
Internet Message Access Protocol, also known as “IMAP” is good if you want to access email from multiple locations. The email messages are stored on the mail server. For example, if you send a message from work, when you open your email account at home, it will still be on the server. When using this technology, there aren’t any copies of the messages stored on your computer (unless you do something special to copy them). The email messages reside on the ISP computer. Many internet providers don’t support IMAP. It takes up a lot of space on the ISP’s computer, which can be problematic.
How Does this Affect Me?
Most people don’t think about email access until they have a problem. For example, if you use a POP account to check your email, when using web mail, you might only have access to new mail (old mail and folders won’t be available). If you delete messages or folders (or create new folders) using IMAP, they won’t be available when you check your email with POP.
Choosing the right technology is a personal choice. If want messages to be available when visiting another computer (even if you deleted it at the office) try POP. If you prefer to forgo this feature, check out IMAP. Understanding how this technology works will make your day run smoother.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
You really put that about as simply as I’ve ever seen it which is great. Is there a difference between Pop and Pop3 though or does that refer to something different all together?
That closing was really great… If you want this pick this if you want that then pick that… Pretty much answers any question that someone could have in two lines!
“Most people don’t think about email access until they have a problem.” That is all too true. I know that I’m even like that, I rarely think about any technology that I use until there is a problem.
I guess I’m an imap type of person because I like the idea of being able to read my email from multiple places, even though I never do. That sort of flexibility just makes me more comfortable even though it could be a security risk as well.
Choosing the right technology is important and confusing. I think sometimes that it is better to just not know and choose blindly and be happy in your ignorance.
From a business perspective of course that doesnt really work but it does apply well to the employees in the office.