Gary Wright4
Level 1 (111 points)

Q: What third party Email works with Mail?

I want an email address which does not change when I change internet service providers.

 

I want to continue read and sent email via Apple's Mail, use my Apple Contacts, etc, just like I have done in the past with POP accounts from Mediacom (cable) and AT&T (DSL).

 

Can anyone recommend a third-party email service which is free or low cost? (This is for personal use - so I don't want to pay for a business-level service.)

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 21.5 inch; 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

Posted on May 21, 2015 9:34 AM

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Gary Wright4

Q: What third party Email works with Mail?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root May 22, 2015 9:27 AM in response to Gary Wright4
    Level 9 (71,369 points)
    iTunes
    May 22, 2015 9:27 AM in response to Gary Wright4

    Set up an iCloud e-mail address in System Preferences/Mail, Contacts,& Calendars.

     

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  • by Gary Wright4,

    Gary Wright4 Gary Wright4 May 22, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (111 points)
    May 22, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Eric Root

    Eric Root, Thanks - I didn't know that was an option!

     

    I don't really know what iCloud is - with only a desktop, I've not felt the need to look into it before now. At first glance, it looks complicated enough that it's probably going to take me a while to figure it out.

     

    One reservation I have about going with Apple email is this: My goal is to get an email address which is relatively permanent, so I don't have to keep updating my email address with friends, family, and financial institutions. As long-time Mac users know, Apple has no qualms about creating the Next Big Thing, then abandoning it a few years later. Remember .mac accounts (2002-2008); and MobileMe (2008-2012)?


    I know there is no point in trying to predict what Apple is going to in the next 4-5 years - but their history does not give me much confidence in the longevity of an "@iCloud" email address.

     

    This site says:  "iCloud Mail uses the IMAP and SMTP standards supported by most modern email apps. iCloud does not support POP."

     

    I've always used POP, so I don't know much about IMAP - is it true that IMAP email is not downloaded to my iMac, but lives only on the IMAP server?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root May 23, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Gary Wright4
    Level 9 (71,369 points)
    iTunes
    May 23, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Gary Wright4

    You are welcome. It downloads a copy to the computer, but the message stays on the server until it is deleted from the server by deleting it from the computer. There are ways to retain it on the server.

     

    It isn't difficult to set up. System Preferences/Mail, Contacts & Calendar and set it up. Then add the account to Mail.