POP3 and IMAP are standardized internet protocols used by e-mail clients to download e-mails from an e-mail server. They both do this in a slightly different way, in that neither use the synchronization of contacts and calendars.

What e-mail services use for the synchronization of data can be found in this article  Settings of client with calendar and contacts synchronization.

• What's the difference between POP3 and IMAP?
• MS Outlook 2013
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• Apple Mac Mail
   

What's the difference between POP3 and IMAP?

POP3 (Post Office Protocol v.3)

When using POP3, the e-mail client downloads all the e-mails from the server into the local device where the client is installed. Depending on your settings the messages can be deleted from the server immediately, or after 14 days (for example).

The advantage of using this protocol is that you will not need a huge amount of space in your mailbox, as emails are stored in your local device instead of being stored on the email server. This also means that your e-mails are more under your control.

One disadvantage can be limitation- depending on deleting the messages from the server. Users connected from different devices will only see unread messages. Another problem is restoring emails after a backup, as only those messages which were on server at the time of the backup will be restored.

If you want to share the mailbox with more users, or access it from multiple devices, we recommend you use IMAP protocol.
 

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

Here, the E-mail client manages e-mails directly on the server. Users can almost instantly see if e-mails were seen or sent by someone. The e-mail itself stays in mailbox, and if it's deleted you won't see it on any device connected to mailbox.

The big advantage here is with the availability of e-mails, you can access them from everywhere because every e-mail stays on the server. 

Although IMAP is useful for connecting the mailbox to a mobile device it doesn't support the  synchronization of contacts and calendar. To synchronize all data you need to use our PLUS mailbox, which supports so called 'Exchange' services..

How to add mailbox to MS Outlook 2013

Setting the mailbox in MS Outlook 2013 to manage your e-mails using POP3 or IMAP can be completed by following our simple walk through. All data can be used for our Start mail and Active24 E-mail solutions. The walk through does not include the setting of contacts and calendar synchronization. Contacts and calendar synchronization can be set only for Active24 E-mail and is explained in the "A24mail synchronization." walk through.
 

1. To add a new account use Manual settings and go to the  POP3 or IMAP.
2. Fill in your login information, the outgoing and incoming mail server is email.active24.com- for POP3 and IMAP.
3. In More settings use in the Server bookmark for outgoing server the same settings as for incoming.
4. Our server needs SSL/TLS encryption, so in the Specification bookmark set up encryption. For POP3 fill in 995, for IMAP 993.
5. Outgoing server (SMPT) use port 465, when using encrypted connection SSL / TLS. If it does not work, please try alternative settings with SMTP port 587 and encrypted connection STARTTLS / automatic. 

Detailed walk through:

1. After launching the program choose the option File(1) on the upper left and click on option Add account(2).
   
2. Choose Manual settings or other server types (3) and after that POP3 or IMAP(4) 
   
3. Fill out User information (5), choose account type (6)- POP3 or IMAP? The incoming and outgoing server is email.active24.com (7), Login information (8) is used for logging into working mailbox. If you don't know your password you can simply change it using our Walkthrough. Continue by clicking on More settings (9) 
   
   *In case the test e-mail cannot be sent by our outgoing server please contact your internet provider. They can prioritize their own servers for security reasons.
4. In the middle bookmark Outgoing server (10) check the Outgoing server(SMTP) needs verification (10) option and go to the last bookmark More (11). 
   
5. According to your account type set up server encryption. IMAP uses port 993 (12) and POP3 port 995 (13), scripting with SSL. Outgoing servers are protected on port 465 and encryption SSL/TLS or if it does not work, then choose port 587 and encryption STARTTLS/automatic (14).
   
6. Now complete this set up by confirming all the settings. Using the button  Next> (15), add e-mail account to your e-mail client MS Outlook 2013. 

How to add mailbox to Mozilla Thunderbird

Setting the mailbox in Mozilla Thunderbird to manage your e-mails using POP3 or IMAP can be completed by following our simple walk through. All data can be used for our  Start mail and Active24 E-mail solutions. The walk through does not contain the settings of contacts and calendar synchronization. Contacts and calendar synchronization can be set only for Active24 E-mail and is explained in the "A24mail synchronization." walk through.
 

1. To add an already created mailbox use the login information of the mailbox.
2. The Outgoing and incoming server is email.active24.com - for POP3 and IMAP.
3. Our servers needs SSL/TLS encryption, so insert the ports and encryption type. For POP3 fill out 995, for IMAP 993.
4. With outgoing server (SMTP) use port 465 and encryption SSL/TLS or if it does not work, then choose port 587 and encryption STARTTLS/automatic (3).
5. The user name is the full e-mail address.

Detailed walk through:

1. After launching the program choose the Accounts category between the Create new account op: E-mail.
   
2. Fill in the login information to your mailbox account and click on Continue.
   
3. Mozilla Thunderbird should automatically find our mail servers. You just have to choose if you want to use POP3 or IMAP. By clicking Done you will add a mailbox to your e-mail  client. In case the servers are not recognized automatically, use Manual settings.
   
4. If using manual settings choose the protocol you want to use POP3 or IMAP. 
   POP3 needs encryption through port 995 with the  SSL/TLS encryption. The name of the server is eemail.active24.com (1).
   IMAP needs encryption through port 993 with encryption - SSL/TLS, server email.active24.com (2).
   Outgoing server* (SMTP) is the same as incoming email.active24.com with port 465 and encryption SSL/TLS or if it does not work, then choose port 587 and encryption STARTTLS/automatic (3).
   User name is the full e-mail address (4).
   
   *In case the test e-mail cannot be sent by our outgoing server please contact your internet provider. They can prioritize their own servers for security reasons.

How to add mailbox to Apple Mac Mail

Setting the e-mail account in Apple Mac mail client for using your mailbox using POP3 or IMAP can be completed by following our simple walk through. All data can be used for our Start mail and Active24 E-mail solutions. Walk through does not contain settings of contacts and calendar synchronization. Contacts and calendar synchronization can only be set for Active24 E-mail and is explained in the "A24mail synchronization." walk through . T

1. In your Apple device find Add new account. Here choose the last option Add different account.
2. Fill in your name, the whole e-mail address and its password and then click on Log in.
3. Login will fail for the first time, then you just have to fill out e-mail servers for incoming and outgoing mail - email.active24.com
4. Don't forget to choose Type of account - POP3 or IMAP

Detailed walk through:

1. In your Apple device find Add new account. Here choose the last option Add different account.
   
2. Start by adding your mailbox. 
   
3. Fill your name, the whole e-mail address and its password and then click on Log in.
   
4. Login will fail for the first time, you just have to fill out e-mail servers for incoming and outgoing mail - email.active24.com
   
5. Don't forget to choose  Type of account  - POP3 or IMAP