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1 Electronic mail is the transmission of mainly text based messages across networks. This can be within a particular network - internal mail - or between networks - external mail. The most common network used for is the Internet. The main advantages of are: It is extremely fast - from your computer to anywhere in the world in minutes It is inexpensive - it is much cheaper than conventional mail Instant reply - you can reply instantly to an incoming mail Multiple send - it can be sent to many recipients simultaneously Attachments - files such as photographs, documents or drawings can be sent with the message Storage - can be easily stored and searched at a later date It does also have some disadvantages: Security - it can be intercepted or hacked into Spam - junk mail is easier to send and more difficult to trace Viruses - attachments can carry viruses and spyware Operation In order to send or receive , you must have an account with an address from a service provider. The account will also have a username and a password. A typical address looks like: johnireland@eircom.net Username Service Provider The username and server provider parts are separated by symbol. Typical providers include: Address johnireland@eircom.net johnireland@gmail.com johnireland@hotmail.com johnireland@t4.ie Service Provider Eircom Google Mail Microsoft MSN T4 Page 1

2 Usernames and Passwords Usernames and passwords are constructed using alphanumeric characters. Some service providers place restrictions on passwords such as minimum and maximum length and ensuring a combination of letters and numbers are used etc. Example: Username - johnireland Password - school07 accounts There are two main types of account - Paid and Free: A paid account will have Internet access and a mailbox for . A ISP - Internet service Provider - will be paid monthly for the service. Eircom is an example. A free account will only have a mailbox. To use the mailbox, you log onto the providers website where you can send, receive and manage . Hotmail and Gmail are examples of this type. can be accessed in a number of ways: Using software - the messages are downloaded from the service providers server onto your computer. Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird are examples. Webmail - an Internet Browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox is used to access the service providers website and the is managed on the website. Both free and paid accounts can be accessed using either method though some setup is required in order to use software. Setting up an account in outlook Express. Some information is required before an account can be set up in an application: address - johnireland@eircom.net Username - John Ireland Password - school 07 (Case sensitive) Incoming server address (POP3) Outgoing server address (SMTP) The account can now be set up. Page 2

3 Open Outlook Express From the tools menu, choose Accounts Click the Mail tab Click the Add button and choose Mail Enter the Username in the Display name field and click Next Enter the address in the space provided and click Next Page 3

4 Enter the Incoming and Outgoing mail servers as shown below. These are unique to Eircom. Each service provider will have their own server addresses. Click Next Enter the Password in the space provided and click Next Click Finish in the next box to complete the process To access the Click the Send/Recv button in the application and select the required account to download the Page 4

5 The settings necessary for setting up other providers accounts in applications can be found at the link below: Applications Outlook Express is the most common application in use as it is bundled with Microsoft Windows. Other applications include: Thunderbird - Pegasus - Eudora - Incredimail - Using Outlook Express When Outlook Express starts, you are presented with the welcome screen. Click on Inbox as shown below. To customize the interface, Click the View menu and choose Layout Page 5

6 Un-tick the Contacts, Folder Bar and Folder List boxes Tick the Outlook Bar box. Un-tick the Show preview pane box and click OK The interface is now less cluttered and easier to manage. So set options, click on the Tools menu and choose Options Page 6

7 Click the General tab and set the application to start with the Inbox displayed Set the required options in the Send tab The Receipts tab can be used to request a receipt for sent mails. This ensures that the was opened by the recipient The spell check can be set in the Spelling tab The application is now set up and ready for use. Page 7

8 Composing and Sending an Click File and New Message Enter the address in the To: box and a quick note in the Subject area. Don t send an without an entry in the subject area as most recipients will automatically delete it for security reasons. Write your message in the area provided and click Send Address Book The address book is used to store addresses and is very useful when sending . To open the address book: Click the Tools menu and choose Address Book Page 8

9 To add a new contact: Click the New button and choose Contact Fill in the details and click OK. To create a group: Click the New button and choose Group Add the group name and click Select Members Page 9

10 Select the members and click OK. The group is formed. Using the Address Book The address book is useful when sending an to multiple addresses etc. Open Outlook Express and click Create Mail Click the To: button to open the address book Select the required addresses and add them to the Message Recipients area Click OK Fill in the Subject area and complete the as before Page 10

11 CC and BCC Carbon Copy and Blind Carbon Copy are also used with multiple addresses. CC - the addresses in this area will receive the message as well as the addresses in the To: box BCC: - recipients entered in the BCC area will not be aware of the other people receiving the message Page 11

12 Attachments Files can be attached to messages. It is possible to attach several files to an . To attach a file: In the New Message window, click Attach Browse to the required file or files, select and click the Attach button Click the Send button. Page 12

13 Replying to Below can be seen an sent to a group. An attachment is included in the . At the top of the window, there are three buttons: Reply Reply All Forward Reply is used to reply to the sender only. Click the Reply button. The address the subject fields ate already completed. Type any message and click the Send button Page 13

14 Reply All is used to reply to the entire group. Click the Reply All button. The address the subject fields ate already completed. Type any message and click the Send button Forward is used to send the to a new recipient. Click the Forward button. The address the subject fields ate already completed. Type any message and click the Send button Page 14