imap or pop server what should I use?

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Level 1

8 points

imap or pop server what should I use?

Hi

You have probably heart this a thousand times. I read a lot in this forum, but now I am more confused than before. Just bought iPhone 3GS. I want to set up my email. The cox eamil only let me set up pop eamil and I really don't need the cox email. My business email runs through hostmonster.com. They recommend a imap email setup, which I did last night. I can receice emails and send them. But: when I first check my mail on my pc the mail dissapears on iPhone. I really want to see my email on both devices until I delete them!! What should I use then: pop or imap and why is hostmonster recommending imap setup? What is the advantage?
Also what is ssl, should I turn it on or off?
Thank you so much and I am sorry If I brought this up again.
Petra

MacBook PC Vista, Mac OS X (10.5.8), iPhone 3.01

Posted on Aug 31, 2009 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

tokatta

Level 3

869 points

Aug 31, 2009 12:54 PM in response to imort movies

Imap keeps the email on the server, so any device can access it and view it. POP3 downloads the email off the server - so if you download pop email to your PC, it is not on the server for the iPhone to pull.

SSL turns on encryption - if you don't use then anyone sniffing your wifi traffic can see your email username/password and read your email. YES turn it ON!

The drawback to Imap is that you need to be online to see your email. There are some hybrid setups that use imap to keep the email on the server always, but let you keep some stuff locally. I am not familiar with hostmonster, but maybe someone else is.

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Answer 2

Aug 31, 2009 1:02 PM in response to imort movies

IMAP is like yahoo or gmail: you can check email from any web browser. This usually means that email is left on the server until you delete it. That means you can check email either from your computer or your iPhone. Pop email on the other hand works differently. With a pop account, if someone sends email it will go to either your iPhone or your computer, depending on which one you check first. In order to have it go both places, you simply need to make a change in outlook. Simply do an internet search on how to leave a copy on the server in outlook settings.

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Answer 3

imort movies Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 31, 2009 2:58 PM in response to bensthebest

But why can't I see the emails on Iphone AFTER I checked on PC. As you said imap keeps the messages on the server. But there are not on Iphone anymore. Is there something I am missing? Or should I set up as pop and then click under advance: leave the message on server all the time?
Thank you so much
Petra

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Answer 4

paulcb

Level 6

19,245 points

Aug 31, 2009 3:03 PM in response to imort movies

The settings on your PC might be to delete the email on the server after downloading, i.e check all the settings on your PC. Also, can you use webmail with your provider? This will also help in solving your issues.

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