IMAP is a solution looking for a problem

How IMAP works in practice

I don't think people understand what IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol is so for those that  don't know here is a simple explanation

IMAP is a hosted email service run on your own or someone else's domain (usually your own]. If you own your own domain and have some form of hosting, then you will also have email on the site ie . It is also termed webMail because it is a fully working eMail platform that works from your website and not dependent on your outlook or other desktop email browser.

In other words all the email is sent to and kept on your hosted server and can be distributed to single or multiple destinations in parallel [at the same time]  [ie Blackberry, iPhone, PC and laptop] and all outgoing and incoming emails can be seen by all parties joined to the specific on-line email account.

Example 1: You receive an email on your blackberry, and if it is POP3 settings it will only go to your Blackberry and won't be available on your laptop unless you forward it to your own email address and switch off your Blackberry quick so it doesn't download it again.

Example 2: With IMAP you set it up the same way but, when an email downloads to your blackberry it will also when you turn it on download automatically to your laptop or other PC and any replies you sent from any of your devices will also be in the SENT folder of each.

The beauty of IMAP is the folders are not actually kept on your PC or laptop but on the Server so when you send an email from your Blackberry and the email goes into the [SENT MAIL] box, it also goes into the [SENT MAIL] box on your PC.

Likewise, if you delete an email off one, it will also delete it from the server and by virtue of synchronising, also off the PC. This is simply because what you are doing is networking your email service to all of your machines in the same way as Exchange, but without all the complicated set up. The eMail is on your server, and is only 'echoed' on your laptop or Blackberry.

You can run the IMAP service for one email address or multiple emails, you can link two or more emails so emails get copied to multiple persons.

You can create multiple directories which is great for storing emails over years because it stores them off your PC and on the server. You can keep and maintain drafts, templates and archives which are accessible at all your locations.

Most importantly when you buy or use a new PC or laptop and want your emails to be available you only have to input the basic IMAP settings which are usually the same as POP3 and you are instantly rewarded with a complete download of all your directories as if they were there all the time. When you then delete the email account off the PC the directories all disappear back up to your server.