MCS TECH TIPS

April 27, 2001

YOU CAN CHECK YOUR E-MAIL FROM ANY WEB BROWSER

For some time America Online had an advantage in that it ensured access to e-mail from virtually anywhere in the world.  Those who had non-AOL accounts (conventionally known as POP3 type e-mail accounts) were often unable to check e-mail when traveling due to limited access to the host computer from distant locations.  Even if that access existed, more complicated configuration of the host e-mail program would usually be required.

Not surprisingly, applications that can retrieve your POP3 e-mail from any server and deliver it to you through a web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape) have now been developed and are widely available.  This represents a great benefit to those of you who travel, as it is relatively easy to find a computer with Internet access.

Web e-mail access will permit you to read and reply to e-mails you receive when you are away.  The original messages remain on the server of your Internet provider and will all be downloaded into your computer the first time you check your e-mail when you return home.  If you reply to any messages, or write new messages and would like to retain a copy of these you must send yourself a copy.  This way, your message copy will also be on your server when you return. 

The sites that provide web e-mail access do not store your user name, password or e-mail.  As a safeguard, always close the browser window when you are done with your e-mail session.  This means either choose FILE, then EXIT or left click on the ‘x’ in the upper right hand corner of the browser window so that the browser is completely closed.

Before you travel, be sure to try one or more of these sites from home and see which one works best for you.  It would probably be a good idea to take the web addresses of several with you in case you have trouble accessing the one that you prefer.  You will need your login name for e-mail and your e-mail password. 

WEB E-MAIL POP3 CHECKERS

·    http://www.thatweb.com/index.html  - YOU DON’T NEED TO REGISTER, ENTER YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD IN THE BOXES ON THE RIGHT AND CLICK “CHECK MAIL”

·    http://www.mail2web.com - THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.  IT SEEMS TO CONSISTENTLY WORK WELL, THE SITE IS UN-CLUTTERED, AND IT IS EASY TO NAVIGATE.  ENTER YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD AND CLICK “CHECK MAIL”.

·    http://www.mollymail.com/mollymail.fcgi 

The three above are the easiest and least complicated to use.  You can find additional sites on the link below, however, some of those require registration or payment 

·    http://www.emailaddresses.com/email_checkpop.htm 

I’ll be happy to answer any questions should they arise.  This should be a useful resource for those who travel.