Mail server

Mail Server is a program that distributes files or information in response to requests sent via electronic mail. Examples on the Internet include Almanac and netlib. Mail servers are also used on Bitnet. It is a high-capacity computing device that runs software dedicated to sending, delivery, and storage of electronic mail messages. Email servers are a critical component of modern business correspondence, providing nearly instantaneous communication that can be preserved for recording and accountability purposes.

When setting up an e-mail account, you’ll be asked to select the type of e-mail server your account uses:

• Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) servers hold incoming e-mail messages until you check your e-mail, at which point they’re transferred to your computer. POP3 is the most common account type for personal e-mail. Messages are typically deleted from the server when you check your e-mail.

• Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) servers let you work with e-mail messages without downloading them to your computer first. You can preview, delete, and organize messages directly on the e-mail server, and copies are stored on the server until you choose to delete them. IMAP is commonly used for business e-mail accounts.

• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) servers handle the sending of your e-mail messages to the Internet. The SMTP server handles outgoing e-mail, and is used in conjunction with a POP3 or IMAP incoming e-mail server.