Free email accounts are easy to use and, well, free. But because they include the provider's domain name in the address, they carry a certain casualness to them. That's fine for your personal account, but for business accounts, using a free email is like wearing your robe and slippers to the office.
When you're ready to choose a professional email solution, the options may be overwhelming. We'll help you translate some of the technical terms into real benefits so you can figure out which email solution is best for you.
POP3/SMTP
If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive email solution that includes your domain name in your email address, POP3/SMTP accounts are for you.
IMAP
Internet message access protocol (IMAP) is an alternative to POP3 as a method of retrieving email messages from a server. IMAP is used in conjunction with simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), which allows you to send email.
Microsoft Exchange
One of the most robust email solutions, Microsoft Exchange offers users all the benefits of POP3/SMTP and IMAP email accounts in addition to advanced features such as wireless access and shared resources.