AF email service

[igor@af]

We're looking into offer AF members an email service.

Would you guys be interested in having solely webmail, pop, and/or IMAP?


POP or IMAP: Which Should I Use?

Both give you the flexibility of using any of the popular email programs such as Outlook, Entourage, Netscape and many others. IMAP is a newer, more advanced protocol and has some major advantages over POP, for many types of users. You can choose which is right for you.


With IMAP...

Messages and Folders Stay Synched

Access all of your messages and folders no matter where you are or what computer or browser you are using. No more having to manually sync up your laptop before you go on the road.

Messages Stay Safe

Computer crashed? Since IMAP keeps track of your messages on our servers, the next time you log in all your messages will be re-synched automatically.

Lightning Fast Over Slow Connections

Don't wait for messages to show up one by one. IMAP is optimized to display a list of your messages right away.

Space Saver

Retrieve a message only when want to read it. IMAP is great for cell phones, PDAs and other devices where storage is a premium.

Work With Your Messages Off-Line

Like POP, IMAP lets you work with your downloaded messages off-line and will send any new messages as soon as you reconnect. Unlike POP, IMAP will also re-sync any of the changes you made to a message while off-line, including creating and moving messages.


When to choose IMAP...


You check your email with different computers or devices
IMAP lets you keep all of your messages, file attachments and folders in sync, and remembers the condition that you last left them in (read, replied, forwarded, and so on).

You use Web Mail in addition to an email program such as Outlook
IMAP lets you keep all of your messages, file attachments and folders synchronized between Web Mail and your email program.

You use SpamShield Pro
IMAP works with SpamShield Pro so you can filter out junk email before you download the entire message.

You want the peace of mind of having your email backed up
IMAP messages, file attachments and folders archived online are automatically backed up.

You use a slow connection to the Internet
IMAP lets you selectively download messages and file attachments.

You use a computer or device with limited storage space
IMAP lets you store messages and file attachments online and lets you selectively download only the ones that you need.

You use POP and leave messages on the server
IMAP is designed for this scenario; thus, you avoid the pitfalls of leaving messages on the server with POP.



When to choose POP...


You check your email exclusively with one computer

You perform your own email backups

You must use an email program that does not work with IMAP

You used POP before and are satisfied with its limitations

['97ventureowner]

Not to sound too computer illiterate, but what are the differences? I know my ISP has webmail, and am use to that. I originally started w/ AOL a few years back but don't know what theirs is classified as. I've heard of pop (I've also seen it written as POP3 ,is that the same? And I think I've heard of IMAP but am not familiar with it.

['97ventureowner]

I also have a Yahoo email address. What email system do they use?

[igor@af]

I believe that Yahoo is webmail only.

With POP/IMAP, you can also use an email client such as Mozilla Thunderbird or MS Outlook Express.

[eversio11]

I'd prefer to be able to use POP/Outlook, and an AF email would kick much ass.

['97ventureowner]

Okay I get it now. My computer is running REAL slow tonight. Only 28.8kbps (usually 31.2) When I first read the first message by igor, I was only able to view the first two sentences- hence my post questioning the differences. Now when I went back to see if anybody responded, I am able to view the whole post. I don't know if it's this site tonight or my computer, but everything is super slow. When I posted a response in another forum it took nearly a minute for it to appear when usually it takes a few seconds. Thanks for the info though.

[uranium235powered]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

Okay I get it now. My computer is running REAL slow tonight. Only 28.8kbps (usually 31.2)

HA! mine is slower. 11kbps on average everyday. I'd like an IMAP e-mail service....but where is your source of revenue? Advertisers? you must have at least dumped thousands on AF, now you want to offer us a service? Are you going to charge us for it? Because it sounds almost too good to be true

[igor@af]

We are currently considering bundling the email service along with a "no-ads" AF membership, which will cost a small amount per month (subscription).

[SiGNAL748]

I like Yahoo!'s service, which i'm assuming is "webmail" so i selected webmail on the poll.

I also assume that this email service will likely not be free (or at least at first). How much will you be charging for it? Because I am seriously interested in an @automotiveforums.com email address.

[imtheoneandonlyD]

i also wanna know how much? it would be sweet though. I look forward to it.

[Sluttypatton]

IMAP sounds like the way to go, but I would be interested in any service provided by AF.

[igor@af]

Here is the package that we're working on right now:

Introductory Special Products:

2 x 12" AF decal
2 x AF license plate frame
1 x AF bottle-opener key chain

Services:
- No ads on AF
- Larger avatar - 125x125 pixels (regular members are 100x100)
- Special color stars under user title
- @ AF email account (a few different domains to choose from possibly)
- Ability to create your own blog (journal / website)


As far as the cost, we just don't know yet as many things on the list above are in the 'research status' as of now, with some costs of operation unknown to us.

While we're at it though, I would love to hear what you guys think would be an appropriate monthly subscription price.

[eversio11]

The introductory package sounds badass.

As for the monthly subscription, I'd pay somewhere between $9.99-$15.99. Twenty bucks a month is a bit steep, but I may consider paying that.

As for the journal idea, if it cuts costs, I wouldn't really find much use for it. There are lots of blog/journal websites already out there, and I think an AF would not find much use.

Those are just my opinions

[Oz]

Don't give a shit what protocol it uses - the @automotiveforums.com need a fucking good spam filter before it goes public! Yeesh. 100+ messages per day

[igor@af]

Originally Posted by Oz

Don't give a shit what protocol it uses - the @automotiveforums.com need a fucking good spam filter before it goes public! Yeesh. 100+ messages per day

Shouldn't have made it available publicly on the web