Resources for Email Providers

In today's technology age, every business needs email to stay connected to their clientele, to keep investors updated, and to network with other businesses. As you look into the available email service providers, it helps to be aware of the jargon used to describe the available services, including whether access to your email is through the Internet, a server, or directly on your computer.

ISP

ISP stands for Internet service provider, including AOL, Netscape, Comcast, Earthlink and Mediacom on a national level. Most ISPs offer email service as part of their Internet connection.

SMTP

SMTP stands for simple mail transfer protocol. SMTP is the standard Internet protocol for transferring email messages from one computer to another by specifying how the two computers interact and the format of the messages.

POP

POP stands for post office protocol. It is a means of sending a client's email directly to his computer or server, with all files and folders stored on the computer, rather than the client having to access an email service through the Internet.

IMAP

IMAP stands for Internet message account protocol and gives users access to email and files stored on a server.

Webmail

Webmail, also known as web mail or web-based email, is an email service accessed through a web browser and Internet connection. The most common webmail providers offer a free service, such as Yahoo!, Hotmail and Google's Gmail. Most of these services provide unlimited storage for emails and folders for ease of use.

Postmaster

In the technology world, postmaster refers to the individual in charge of an email server. They look for errors in email transfers, analyzing them and making necessary adjustments to correct the issue. When there is an error, you may receive a message from "postmaster@domain.com" stating the problem.