Can I send AOL mail via Comcast Server

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Level 5

6,448 points

Can I send AOL mail via Comcast Server

I'm having trouble setting up AOL IMAP in Mail. Especially the outgoing server. Instead of using smtp.aol.com, can I use smtp.comcast.net as the outgoing server/

iMac G5 PPC 20" 2GHz, 2GB Ram/400GB HD, iMac G4 15" 800MHz, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Airport Extreme/Express, OWC 320GB FWHD, iLife 08, QT7 Pro, JBL Encounters

Posted on Feb 21, 2008 9:29 PM

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Answer 1

Jim Mock

Level 3

536 points

Feb 22, 2008 11:53 AM in response to Joe Gramm

You should be able to as long as you're authenticating properly with the Comcast SMTP server.

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Answer 2

Kevin Horn

Level 4

1,836 points

Feb 22, 2008 1:58 PM in response to Joe Gramm

Here are the specifics on how to setup AOL on Mail as IMAP, using comcast might not work at all:

http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/imap/

How do you use AOL's IMAP/SMTP servers?

The AOL IMAP and SMTP server addresses are:

imap.aol.com (port 143)
smtp.aol.com (port 587)
Log in to the IMAP server using the appropriate AOL screen name (with any spaces removed -- "John Doe" becomes "JohnDoe" or "johndoe" -- this is what we call "normalizing" a Screen Name) and that Screen Name's AOL (not AIM) Password.

The SMTP server requires authentication in order to send mail through it. Just as with the IMAP server, log in using the normalized AOL Screen Name and its AOL Password. You do not need to use the AOL SMTP server, but your message will not appear in your AOL Sent Mail and may be blocked by filters that do not believe AOL members should be sending email without using the AOL SMTP server.

Access to these servers is available whether you are dialed into AOL or another provider, regardless of whether the AOL software is signed on. AOL members using hourly rate plans will not be charged for accessing these servers -- provided they're not dialed into AOL while doing it. Access to the servers will be listed as "<NetMail>" in the Detailed Bill.

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Answer 3

Joe Gramm Author

Level 5

6,448 points

Feb 23, 2008 6:47 AM in response to Kevin Horn

Thanks for the replies, I'm setting this up for someone that can not do without AOL. To me, it's to much trouble, considering all the other options. I'm going to sound like I don't no anything here, but how do I log into the imap server. Is that by putting the settings into Mail or some other method. I currently have the outgoing server port set to 993, the same as the .Mac port. It seems to be working. I've tried using port 587, but that's a hard port to use with Comcast. Comcast allows that port for its own smtp, but says they don't support AOL servers using that port. So it's really not as much AOL, but Comcast. What happens if I use 587 is, it will work for a while, but eventually, messages will start saying that the message can't be sent using the selected smtp server. Is that due to Comcast or some other issue.

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Answer 4

Joe Gramm Author

Level 5

6,448 points

Feb 23, 2008 6:52 AM in response to Kevin Horn

Also, would it be better to use the AOL setup assistant to make sure the AOL folder structure was correct.

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Answer 5

donny

Level 6

10,409 points

Feb 23, 2008 6:55 AM in response to Joe Gramm

AOL has recently released a Beta of a new Desktop Client for the Mac. You might want to have her try that: http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=desktop_mac

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Answer 6

Kevin Horn

Level 4

1,836 points

Feb 23, 2008 8:15 AM in response to Joe Gramm

No, AOL setup assistant won't help with using Mail.

Your best bet, as someone else mentioned, is using the new AOL Desktop. They've basically taken a browser and added things to make it work well with AOL. Signing in should be simple and automatic.

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Answer 7

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Feb 24, 2008 10:57 AM in response to Joe Gramm

Hi Joe!

The AOL® Service Assistant, which can be downloaded from this website AOL Macintosh Downloads, will automatically configure Apple Mail with AOL mail.

"The AOL Service Assistant enables you to set up the following Apple applications to work with the AOL service:
• Mail - The AOL Service Assistant makes it easy to configure Mac OS X Mail to send and receive AOL mail. If you've used the existing AOL for Mac OS X product, you can also import your incoming and outgoing messages from your Personal Filing Cabinet into Mail.
• iChat - You can now easily set up iChat to work with your Screen Name.
• Address Book - Using the AOL Service Assistant, you can now easily import your AOL Address Book contacts into your Mac OS X Address Book without bringing in duplicate entries.
• Safari - AOL Service Assistant enables you to import your Favorite Places into a folder in the Safari Bookmarks Bar."

ali b

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