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Frequently asked questions about Webmail
Webmail is a tool that allows you to check and sent email from any computer with internet connection, using a web browser (Internet, Netscape, Opera).
| What is the purpose of Webmail? |
Webmail is primarily meant as an additional email tool to read incoming messages, as well as to send messages, when you are away from your regular workplace.
All messages sent to your email address are stored in your personal mailbox at our mailservers. At your regular workplace you are used to retrieve the messages in your own computer, and at the same time to delete these messages from the server, by means of programmes like Outlook, Eudora and Pegasus Mail. This method is called POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3).
Contrary to the POP3 protocol, Webmail doesn't delete the messages from the server. They remain in your mailbox at the server, so they are still available for later retrieval in your regular POP3 programme.
Like there are various POP3 programmes, also for Webmail various programmmes exist, such as Twig and SquirrelMail. They are installed at the servers, so like your mailbox they can be accessed from any computer with internet connection.
| Do I get an additional email address? |
No. POP3 and Webmail use the same mailbox. That ability is the very handiness of Webmail: to read all messages coming in at your regular email address, without complicated actions such as forwarding mail to a temporary address or the use of a hotmail account.
There is one central address for accessing Webmail: http://webmail.suares.nl
To log in, your have to submit your user name (= your email address) and your password.
Webmail is safe, provided your follow these tips to ensure that other users of the same computer cannot read your mail:
- Various browsers and systems have the ability to store passwords for secured sites. Do not store your user name and password when using Webmail. Anyone knowing your user name, will have automatic access to your email.
- Use the LOGOUT button to exit Webmail when you are finished. If you forget, SquirrelMail will automatically log you out after 15 minutes.
| If I sent messages by Webmail, can I read them later at my regular workplace? |
Your POP3 email programme can only retrieve messages located in the root folder of your INBOX at the server. In this folder all incoming messages are automatically stored.
If you have created additional subfolders of the INBOX in Webmail, the messages stored in these folders cannot directly be retrieved by your POP3 programme. The same applies to the subfolders for sent messages and draft messages.
If you want to retrieve these messages at your regular workplace, you first have to move them in Webmail from the folder concerned to the INBOX. In this way it is even possible to retrieve messages from the trash folder of Webmail into your POP3 programme!
Remark: Technically there is an option, the IMAP protocol, to retrieve all folders from a mailbox at the server. This option is at present not supported by us because of abundant use of the storage capacity of the servers.
| Are messages retrieved in POP3 still available in Webmail? |
When retrieving messages in POP3, it is common use to also deléte these messages from the server. The messages are then no longer accessible in Webmail.
If you want to be able to temporarily retrieve all incoming messages in both POP3 ánd Webmail, it is possible to put the delete function of your POP3 programme out of action.
Depending on your browser programme, it is done by inactivating the option 'delete messages from host once successfully retrieved' or activating the option 'leave mail on server'.
It's not a very pleasant option to do this for a very long time, as it leads to extra data traffic and it might lead to abundant use of the storage capacity of the server.
Another adverse effect occurs in some POP3 programmes: at every mail check, all mail will be downloaded no matter whether messages have been read earlier!
| What are the limits to Webmail usage? |
There are no specific limits to the use of Webmail itself, neither to the capacity, nor to the duration of message storage at the servers. However, certain levels of data traffic and storage capacity have, of course, corresponding prices. Extra traffic or capacity beyond the limits agreed upon may therefore result in extra costs.
Periodically cleaning up your webmail, therefore, can do no harm. You are especially advised to empty the 'Trash' folder regularly!
| Can I use my regular address book in Webmail? |
Unfortunately it is not possible to use your address book, existing in e.g. Pegasus Mail or Outlook, in Webmail. The Webmail programme has an address book utility, but all addresses have to be copied manually from your regular address book.
| Is Webmail protected against viruses? |
Yes! All messages coming in at our servers are automatically scanned for the presence of viruses. |
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