POP EMAIL Technical definitions and links from www.pcwebopaedia.com

Technical Definition

Short for Post Office Protocol, a protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server. Most e-mail applications (sometimes called an e-mail client) use the POP protocol, although some can use the newer IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).

There are two versions of POP. The first, called POP2, became a standard in the mid-80's and requires SMTP to send messages. The newer version, POP3, can be used with or without SMTP.

Practical Definition

If you can only access your email from a single home computer using an email program like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Thunderbird, Netscape Navigator, etc., then it’s POP3 email.

WEBMAIL

Technical Definition

Software run by an ISP or online service that provides access to send, receive, and review e-mail using only your Web messages for users who are not connected to the Internet from their usual location. Instead of the e-mail being downloaded to the computer you are checking your e-mail account from, the messages will stay on the provider's server, allowing you access to all e-mail messages regardless of what system or ISP you are connected to the Internet with. Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo! mail are all examples of popular webmail providers. Additionally many ISPs offer webmail services to customers in addition to POP e-mail services.

Practical Definition

If you can access your email from any computer anywhere in the world that has a connection to the internet by going to that email provider’s website, it’s webmail.