Email protocols

 IMAP4: stands for Internet Message Access Protocol version 4. In comparison to email client applications using POP3, email client applications using IMAP4 are relatively more flexible and provide more features. After IMAP4 email applications download email messages onto your computer, a copy of downloaded messages, by default, stays on the email server. Since a copy of all your email messages is present on the email server, you can easily access your email messages even from multiple locations. IMAP4 email allows you to not only access, but also create more than one email folders on the email server.

POP3 or Post Office Protocol version 3 is latest standard protocol designed to receive email messages from an email server. Majority of email service providers furnish POP3 by default and almost all email clients support POP3. POP3 is a client-server protocol, wherein your email messages are received and stored for you by your server. It deletes all the email messages soon after you download them. It is specifically designed to enable offline email processing.

Task 2.5

a)      Satya and Simon can let their friend know what they are doing by text however when they text they have to send multiple different messages and forward multiple recipients which could cost a lot more money. They could also use a range of social networking sites (Facebook, twitter, MySpace) to write one status and let all their friends know what they are doing however this requires an internet connection and if through phone then coverage to a network. They could also use email but the same applies with a phone you need internet connection and or coverage from a mobile network.

b)      To take photos and send it to family/friends they would use either phone email or social networking, the advantage of using social networking is you only have to post it once and everyone you want to see will see it, disadvantage would be that other who you may not want to see it could see it and unless you spend time making it private which is effort. You can also use mobile phones but again the text cost is very expensive to send a picture unless you have a contract however this requires access to and 3g connection. With email it is the same point you must add multiple recipients and send to them individually which is slower.