What is POP3?

POP3 stands for Post Office Protocol (version 3) andaccess to new mail from a variety of client platform
comprises of mailboxes for email systems so that atypes.o They have client implementations available for
user can retrieve email from a central location wherePCs, Macs, and Unix.o They have commercial
the email is stored. Depending on the type of hostingimplementations available.o They allow access to new
package preferred, most of the quality web-hostingmail from anywhere on the network.o Fully support
providers offer their customers with POP3 accounts.the offline (download and delete) access model.o
With the POP3 accounts, users can have mailboxesThey both are open protocols, defined by Internet
on a server with their domain name. So if forRFCs.o They both are native Internet protocols; no
example, you own a domain name (yourdomain.com);mail gateways required.
then you can receive and send emails through WithOnce the user has understood what exactly are the
POP3, users can access their mailboxes and downloadfunctions of POP3 email accounts and its uses, he
messages their computers in the most simple andcan choose a hosting package that offers POP3 email
standardized manner.accounts with their respective support. It is equally
Most e-mail applications also known as an e-mailadvisable to first check with the web host whether
clients use the POP protocol, although some can usethese POP3 accounts are offered within the hosting
the newer IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).package or come at an additional monthly cost. For
The user needs to ensure that their domain is hostedmost web masters, POP3 accounts are indispensable
on a server, which has nameservers in order toand therefore it becomes imperative to opt for a
facilitate setting up of POP3 email accounts for theirweb hosting service that offers this feature. The
domains. Since POP3 allows a client computer tocompany's support needs to be of high quality as well
retrieve electronic mail from a POP3 server via ain order to ensure smooth web hosting. Any kind of
(temporary) TCP/IP or other connection, it does notlaxity or errors can cost you hundreds to millions of
provide for sending mail, which is assumed to bedollars, which is highly undesirable. Some hosting
performed via SMTP or some other method.packages may include "unlimited POP3 accounts" or
The major features of POP3 and IMAP protocolperhaps a set number of POP3 accounts. It is
include:o Both handle mail access only. Sending ofadvisable therefore to first determine your
emails is handled by SMTP.o Both Support persistentrequirement before selecting the hosting package
message identifiers for disconnected use.o Theywith its corresponding POP3 account allowance. Lap
have freely available implementations (includingup on ample knowledge and then select a package
source) available.o They rely on mail delivery to a,that would befit your website requirements.
usually shared, "always up" mail server.o They allow