Differences between IMAP, Activesync and POP3

Webnames.ca currently offers three types of email client connectivity: POP3, IMAP and Activesync. The differences, pros and cons of each are outlined below.

Articles for the setup of various emails clients via these methods can be found in the Table of Contents to the left.

Secure Mail (SSL)

Webnames.ca is happy to provide our customers with SSL By utilizing SSL, the email session between your email client and our email server will be encrypted. The use of Secure Mail is recommended for all customers who access the Internet over a open shared network such as a public wireless hot-spot, or via a cellular provider's mobile network. security for all email connections. By utilizing SSL, emails will be encrypted while in transit.

IMAP

IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol: IMAP connectivity results in your email client downloading email from our mail server to your computer, however a copy of the email is retained on our mail server until such time that you delete the email from your computer. connectivity results in your email client downloading email from our mail server to your computer, however a copy of the email is retained on our mail server until such time that you delete the email from your computer.  

• Advantages: Email can be accessed from multiple email clients and/or webmail simultaneously.
• Disadvantages: Like IMAP, as emails are not removed from our mail servers until they are manually deleted in your mail client, mailbox storage limits could become an issue over time.

   

Activesync

Much like IMAP, Activesync ActiveSync allows mail clients running on devices such as mobile and desktop to be synchronized a server. allows for the full synchronization of mail between multiple email apps and devices. Activesync also goes further to allow for calendars, contacts and tasks to be synchronized as well.

• Advantages: Email, Calendar and Contact can be accessed from multiple email clients and/or webmail simultaneously.
• Disadvantages: As emails are not removed from our mail servers until they are manually deleted in your mail client, mailbox storage limits could become an issue over time.

POP3

POP3 Post Office Protocol (3): POP3 connectivity results in your email client downloading email from our mail server to your computer. Once downloaded to your computer, the email no longer exists on our mail server. connectivity results in your email client downloading email from our mail server to your computer. Once downloaded to your computer, the email no longer exists on our mail server.  

• Advantages: Mailbox storage limits (on our mail server) are typically never an issue.
• Disadvantages: Email cannot be accessed via webmail, nor another device, once downloaded to your computer.