One of the most crucial components to a user in modern society is their E-mails. Many times users face the issues of their email crashing, stop working or just not work as intended. These are detrimental for a user and need to be repaired almost immediately. There are many safeguards though and proper care to take in account to prevent these issues from happening. With the way technology has advanced there are multiple setups at this time for a user’s email. Depending on how your email account is setup, will dictate on how HPCS will solve your email. Listed below are the three different setups and issues that happen with each one.
POP (Post Office Protocol)
A POP email was the first stage of technology of emails ever invented originally back in 1984 with POP1. POP emails are accessed from a local e-mail client and pulled from a remote server to be stored on a user’s CPU. This allows a user to access their emails even when they do not have an active internet connection. Granted if a user does not have an active internet connection then they will be unable to receive new emails until an active internet connection is reestablished. The easiest way to identify if a user is under a POP email account is that their emails do not sync across multiple devices. POP accounts strictly pull received emails from their server and store them locally on the user’s CPU. Sent emails, emails that have since been deleted, contacts, calendars and anything beyond the scope of emails received by the user will not be shared across additional devices. Any uncertainties on what Email service a user is under, an HPCS technician can easily identify it without the use of additional devices to determine if it is syncing or not.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a standard email protocol that stores email messages on a mail server, but allows the end user to view and manipulate the messages as though they were stored locally on the end user’s computing device(s). This allows users to organize messages into folders, have multiple client applications know which messages have been read, flag messages for urgency or follow-up and save draft messages on the server. IMAP protocols were created since most users nowadays use multiple devices to access and manipulate their emails. This provides consistency and greater optimization for any user and is highly recommended over using a POP account.
Exchange Servers
Exchange Email is the brand new setup to provide further sync of email accounts between devices. As stated above IMAP emails are used to sync up different mail folders, sent, draft and deleted emails. Along with the original aspects of a POP account. The new added features included are the provisions of being able to sync a user’s calendar and contacts across multiple devices. Given that most users, especially in a business environment require the use of having their calendars sync’d to keep track of appointments and important tasks. Exchange emails provide every feature associated with an Email to sync across all of a user’s devices and is the new standard for email protocol settings.
“Backing Up”
One of the most important things to factor in when settings up and maintain an email account. Is the backup you have associated with it. Considering the way technology has advanced, a user’s actual emails are protected unless you are running a POP email where the mail is stored locally on your computer. When it comes to IMAP and Exchange emails the mail itself is saved and backed up on a server. The data you need to backup is the port/login and password settings so a user can retrieve these if they are lost.
Desktop vs Web Based Email Clients
Users have two different options when choosing how to access and work on their email accounts. Starting with a standard desktop application (I.E. Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, eM, & Mail.app for Mac users) allows the user to access stored emails even without an active internet connection. Granted no new emails or changes to the account will be received. The other aspect is using a web based service to access your emails (I.E. Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, & Hotmail). This will automatically provide a user with a mix of IMAP and Exchange mail features. Granted this will not provide access without an active internet connection. There are perks to both and easily both usable in today’s technological society. The ending decision lies on the user and what he/she feels comfortable with.
Summary
With the reliance a user has on their emails. Constant care and maintenance of these services is vital to avoiding major issues with an account. HPCS is here to solve any issues that might arise with emails, alongside providing services for setup and storing a users email. If you start experiencing email troubles, waste no time and give HPCS a call to get you back into working order.