POP3? What the heck is that?

Question

OK, I'm trying to answer ads on Craigslist for an apartment.  Usually when things like the stupid Windows Mail comes up I just copy and paste the person's email to my Yahoo Mail account and do my email there.  But it looks like these listings link to the ad itself, not a person's email.  So I have to create a Windows mail account.  Problem is, can somebody please explain to me in PLAIN ENGLISH what the heck a POP3 and an SMTP is?  I tried to look it up but its Internet Greek to me.  

My email is registered @rocketmail.com.  Am I supposed to put this in for POP3 or Yahoo?  I need to look for an apartment for a short term basis and the idiots who created this whole stupid way of doing things are preventing my responses from getting through (sorry for the pessimism but I'm a bit pissed off).

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

POP3 is one half of the email puzzle, and SMTP is the other. POP3 is the protocol, or "language", that's used to download your email from your ISP to your mail program. SMTP is the protocol used to send mail.

But why "POP"? or 3? And what are you supposed to enter when you're asked to configure your "POP3" or "SMTP" account in your email client?


"POP" is pretty simple; that's an acronym for "Post Office Protocol". A communications "protocol" is just the language used between your email program, a POP client, and your ISP's mail - or POP - server.

"3" is even more boring. This is version 3 of the POP protocol. It underwent a few revisions before it became what it is today.

Sending mail uses a different protocol, SMTP, which stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Again, another language used between your email program, an SMTP client, and the SMTP server to which you will send your email.

If you have a paid subscription Premium Yahoo Plus you can configure your Yahoo account in Windows mail. Screenshot step by step instruction Click this link below.
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Windows-Mail-Yahoo-Mail-Plus


Other alternatives is to set Yahoo mail as your default email program to do this you need to do research for Yahoo Toolbar. It free!

penelopa · Answer

you have got to discover the support dossier to some thing process you're attempting to make use of with outlook and discover the directions on how one can set it up competently or additionally e mail or touch aid of provider (if to be had)

POP3? What the heck is that?

2 Answers