Web email

VectraMan · 13th May 2008, 15:30

Just wondering what others do.

I have a domain which redirects to my ISP (Zen) supplied POP3 mailbox, which I then download with Outlook Express on my desktop machine. Zen have a web email interface, but it isn't brilliant, and you can only see the most recent messages.

This all seems a little old fashioned, and makes me wonder if I should switch to an available from anywhere web based system. But I need to look like a professional, not a pikey, so hotmail addresses aren't really on. Neither are ads or any other banners at the bottom of emails. I know everybody was raving about GMail a couple of years back, but isn't that just the same?

Any suggestions?

moorfield · 13th May 2008, 15:36

Gmail is by far the best of the freebies and quite well accepted now as a "professional" looking address.
And they have been tinkering with it again recently so I think you can now send from it using your own domain.

b0redom · 13th May 2008, 15:37

I use Gmail. I also use Zen for my domain hosting. Gmail have a pretty cool feature which will allow you to send mail as if it's coming from your domain, and obviously receive mail from other accounts to your Gmail account.

I really rate it....

Jog On · 13th May 2008, 15:39

Gmail is pretty much the same as hotmail etc.

What you want is POP3 mail hosting that provides a professional looking interface without having to install your own Exchange/OWA server and have it running 24/7 right?

Sounds like a niche if it doesn't exist already..

bogeyman · 13th May 2008, 16:03

You can have web access to your email without having to resort to MSN, Yahoo, Gmail and the rest.

Most decent ISPs provide a web interface to your POP box.

For example, Easily.co.uk, 1and1.co.uk and many others.

You can use pc-based email alongside webmail with the same POP box. Even if you read an email using the web interface, it will still download to your email client when you use it next. Only issue is sent emails, which are either in one place or the other.

Moscow Mule · 13th May 2008, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jog On

Gmail is pretty much the same as hotmail etc.

What you want is POP3 mail hosting that provides a professional looking interface without having to install your own Exchange/OWA server and have it running 24/7 right?

Sounds like a niche if it doesn't exist already..

IMAP

I use multiple devices to read my email, home mail client, blackberry & web.

Gmail offers a shiny IMAP server, can send from your own domain and is available everywhere (except maybe china). It's a far nicer interface than hotmail and can be amended to send email that looks "pro". Hotmail is a bitch to set up like this.

dmini · 13th May 2008, 17:02

Microsoft do a free option - microsoft office live - basic is free. No advertising on emails, website just has a search bar at the top now, and a "powered by Microsoft Office live small business" at the bottom of each page. Believe you can now download to Outlook etc as well now.
free domain name, free webspace, free email. Not had any reliability issues. Seems good to me!!

VectraMan · 13th May 2008, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jog On

What you want is POP3 mail hosting that provides a professional looking interface without having to install your own Exchange/OWA server and have it running 24/7 right?

Not bothered about POP3, web only access is fine. But yes, essentially like OWA except somebody else provides the servers, stores and backs up the data etc for a modest fee.

I might have a good look at GMail.

Can you back up your email yourself from GMail? Or is that why you use IMAP?

Clippy · 13th May 2008, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by VectraMan

Not bothered about POP3, web only access is fine. But yes, essentially like OWA except somebody else provides the servers, stores and backs up the data etc for a modest fee.

I might have a good look at GMail.

Can you back up your email yourself from GMail? Or is that why you use IMAP?

Cobweb is the way to go then.

Search my previous posts on a similar topic for detailed info.

gadgetman · 16th May 2008, 08:51

Not quite sure if this is what you're after but I bought a domain (lets call it gadgetman.net) through Yahoo and have my main email address forwarded to my Yahoo account (this is the Yahoo personal address product). By default you get 5 email addresses at your domain.

I can pick this up via pop3 or webmail from anywhere. All of my email is accessible, even via my mobile.

Yahoo allow you to configure it so that the Yahoo address is never seen so my email is alway to and from the domain e.g. me@gadgetman.net. This is a paid for service (its peanuts though - $35 per annum) and there are no adverts or indications that Yahoo is involved at all anywhere along the line.

I find it very convenient.