Comparing POP3, IMAP and MAPI
Comparing POP3, IMAP and MAPI
POP3 accounts
When using this type of an account you only have one folder, the Inbox folder. You can create new local folders that will be kept in your local hard drive, Keep in mind that you will not be able to see them if you log in to your e-mail account from a different location. POP 3 will move all your mail from the server to your hard drive. A large disadvantage this protocol has is when you want to view old e-mail you have to be using the computer where the e-mail was downloaded to originally. One advantage with this type of account is that here is no need to be or stay connected to the internet to view e-mails already on your computer you do not have to stay logged on to the Internet. You can log on when you want to receive and send new messages. Once your new messages have been downloaded to your computer you can log off to read them. POP3 is not a good option to use if you are going to be logging in from more than one location or from more than one computer. Personally I feel uncomfortable at the thought that if my computer crashed I would lose all my e-mails.
IMAP accounts
When using IMAP, all your mail will stay on the server unless you choose to move it. It allows you to have more than one folder on the server and you can log in from any computer. You can view the folders from any computer as well. IMAP is a better option to use if you are going to be logging in from different computers. You can log in to your web mail also to access all the e-mails that you have on the server with out having to set up a mail client like outlook at every different location you wish to log on to. If your computer crashes everything that is on the server is intact, and you can just set up your account on your new computer and all you e-mails will be there
MAPI accounts
a MAPI account can do what a IMAP account can do plus it will have a live connection to the server, it makes it alot easier to share your inbox, calendar, contacts, tasks, and any notes with information to see when you are available.You can have control of who can see and modify your folders. You can also check your e-mail and your shared information from a web browser, it can be set up to do nearly everything an exchange server can do l. This my favorite one of the three to use.
By: Ana Guillen
POP3 accounts
When using this type of an account you only have one folder, the Inbox folder. You can create new local folders that will be kept in your local hard drive, Keep in mind that you will not be able to see them if you log in to your e-mail account from a different location. POP 3 will move all your mail from the server to your hard drive. A large disadvantage this protocol has is when you want to view old e-mail you have to be using the computer where the e-mail was downloaded to originally. One advantage with this type of account is that here is no need to be or stay connected to the internet to view e-mails already on your computer you do not have to stay logged on to the Internet. You can log on when you want to receive and send new messages. Once your new messages have been downloaded to your computer you can log off to read them. POP3 is not a good option to use if you are going to be logging in from more than one location or from more than one computer. Personally I feel uncomfortable at the thought that if my computer crashed I would lose all my e-mails.
IMAP accounts
When using IMAP, all your mail will stay on the server unless you choose to move it. It allows you to have more than one folder on the server and you can log in from any computer. You can view the folders from any computer as well. IMAP is a better option to use if you are going to be logging in from different computers. You can log in to your web mail also to access all the e-mails that you have on the server with out having to set up a mail client like outlook at every different location you wish to log on to. If your computer crashes everything that is on the server is intact, and you can just set up your account on your new computer and all you e-mails will be there
MAPI accounts
a MAPI account can do what a IMAP account can do plus it will have a live connection to the server, it makes it alot easier to share your inbox, calendar, contacts, tasks, and any notes with information to see when you are available.You can have control of who can see and modify your folders. You can also check your e-mail and your shared information from a web browser, it can be set up to do nearly everything an exchange server can do l. This my favorite one of the three to use.
By: Ana Guillen
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