Users can access their SmarterMail accounts with desktop clients like Mozilla Thunderbird 31.3.0 using either IMAP or POP3.
IMAP keeps all messages and folders on the server. In addition, IMAP idle is an optional feature of the IMAP protocol that pushes all new messages to Thunderbird as they are received by the mail server. Unlike POP3, IMAP offers two-way communication between your SmarterMail mailbox and your email client(s). This means when you log in to the SmarterMail Web interface, actions you performed on email clients and mobile devices will automatically appear in the Web interface (and vice versa).
With POP3, your mail is saved in a mailbox on the remote server until you check your mail. When you check your mail, all of the mail is downloaded to your computer and is no longer maintained on the server. If you use POP3 and are travelling or check your mail from multiple locations, you will not be able to view any of your old mail because the messages only exist on the computer on which you originally received your mail. NOTE: If you have enabled Thunderbird to keep messages on the server, you will be able to access your messages and folders from any computer via the SmarterMail Web interface or your mobile device.
Follow these steps to create an IMAP or POP3 account in Thunderbird 10:
1. In Thunderbird, go to Tools and Account Settings.
2. Click Account Actions and then click Add Mail Account.
3. Complete the following fields: Your Name, Email Address (i.e. username@example.com) and Password
4. Click Continue.
5. Click Manual config
6. For the incoming server, select the desired method of retrieval and enter your mail hostname or servername into
the server hostname field i.e. mail.yourdomainname.com (Substitute your domain name for
"yourdomainname.com").
7. Select the port your mail server requires (Default for IMAP: 143, Default for POP: 110) and leave SSL setting set to
auto-detect.
8. Leave authentication set to auto-detect.
9. For the Outgoing server, enter your server hostname i.e. mail.yourdomainname.com (Substitute your domain
name for "yourdomainname.com"), select the port (Default for SMTP: 25) and leave SSL setting set to auto-detect.
Leave the authentication set to auto-detect.
10. For the username, enter your full email address.
11. Click Re-Test.
12. Once the test has finished, click Done.