IMAP (Internet Messaging Access Protocol) provides a message store that holds incoming e-mail until users log on and download it. IMAP is more sophisticated than the Post Office Protocol (POP3) mail server. Messages can be archived in folders, mailboxes can be shared, and a user can access multiple mail servers. There is also better integration with MIME, which is used to attach files. For example, users can read only the headers in the message without having to automatically accept and wait for attached files to download that they don't want. With the latest version, IMAP4, you can search through your e-mail messages for keywords while the messages are still on mail server. You can then choose which messages to download to your machine. Both IMAP and POP accept SMTP-formatted messages that have been routed across the Internet.

The images and instructions depicted here are relevant to Microsoft Outlook Express 5 for the PC. Other versions and platforms of Outlook and Outlook Express will have similar screens. We simply use Outlook as an example given the wide spread use of Microsoft products by the general computing public.
Note that many of the following configuration options will be relevant to other products as well. Therefore you are certainly allowed (if not encouraged) to explore other email client products.

Please remember, the Computer Labs do not directly support Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.

To begin, open Outlook (or Outlook Express). If this is the first time you have opened Outlook, you may be assaulted with a few annoying questions. Please read them carefully, contemplate their repercussions and answer accordingly.

Once Outlook is up and running, it's time to create your Outlook mail account.

1. Click on Tools and then Accounts

2. Click on the Mail tab then click Add -> Mail…

3. Your Name: You are first asked for your name as you would like it to appear in the From field when you send email to others. For example: John Smith. After you enter your name, click Next.

4. Internet E-mail Address: Now you must provide the email address for the account you wish to access, in this case, your Atlas account. For example: jsmith@Atlas.kennesaw.edu.

5. E-mail Server Names:
· Choose either POP3 or IMAP server.
· Your incoming email server is Atlas.Kennesaw.edu.
· IMPORTANT: Your outgoing SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server is the server through which you send email to others. This server will change depending our your location. For example: on campus, your outgoing SMTP server will be Atlas.Kennesaw.edu. Off campus, your outgoing SMTP server will depend on your ISP (Internet Service Provider), i.e. mail.mindspring.com.

6. Internet Mail Logon: Here you must provide information necessary to log into your account. This will allow your email client access to your email accounts.
· Enter your account name as it appears in your email address. For example, if your email address is jsmith2@Atlas.kennesaw.edu, your account name is jsmith2.
· Here you may choose to enter the password for your email account. Note that you can leave this blank if you would rather be prompted for your password each time.
· Also, if you do not wish Outlook to remember your password, uncheck the associated box.

Click Next and then Finish. Your account has now been created.

Now, once again click on Tools and then Accounts:
1. Make sure your new account is highlighted and click Properties:

2. Here you will find a number of other configurable options associated with your account. Read carefully before making changes.

3. Once you are comfortable that your account is complete, click OK.

4. You are now ready to retrieve email from your Atlas account.
You man either click the Send/Recv button or use the dropdown menu and select an individual operation.