Electronic mail
Objectives:
1. Understanding concept of e-mail ?
2. How does it work ?
3. Becoming an e-mail user.
Understanding e-mail:
ü Electronic mail Is a popular Network
application that allows you to exchange written messages electronically over computer Networks.
application that allows you to exchange written messages electronically over computer Networks.
ü You can send the electronic messages to: - people anywhere in the world
- someone right next to you
- someone right next to you
Advantages:
ü Message can be communicated to people around the world in a quick & Fast manner any time of day or night.
ü It allows asynchronous communication in which, it is not necessary that the recipient should be on line, when a message addressed to him / her is being sent / received.
ü One need not be very formal in composing the email messages, However, one should follow netiquette rules.
ü This is a very inexpensive mode of communication, in which large no of people spread all over the world can be covered, without additional costs.
Disadvantages:
ü Low Security, low privacy or less confidential as messages may be intercepted by individuals other than sender or recipient:
- Due to wrong address
- Due to transmission error
- Due to hacking
- Legal issues associated with authentication of email messages
- Due to wrong address
- Due to transmission error
- Due to hacking
- Legal issues associated with authentication of email messages
Note: Technology is already trying to provide solutions like encryption/ decryption and digital signatures, which are not being covered in the basic lecture on email.
How does it work s?
E-mail is a “Store and Forward Service”
ü The process of communication through e-mail is based on the Client-Server technology.
ü The computer which provides e-mail facility is called Server or Email Service provider.
ü The computer which avails of this facility is called Client.
How to become an E-mail user:
ü Apply to an E-mail Service Provider for an e-mail address (sometimes referred as email account also)
ü Load necessary Software in your computer.
ü Your computer should get connected to email server, either through: – dialup connectivity ( via a modem) – lease line – Satellite based connectivity
Structure of an E-mail address:
E-mail address has two parts
user_name@Host_name
Person’s user name Tells the e-mail server on which
computer the recipient’s e-mail account is
computer the recipient’s e-mail account is
E.g.: ashok@akbdevhelper.blogspot.com
E-mail Software: (Few examples)
ü Server software Ø SMTP Ø POP Ø Microsoft Exchange Ø Lotus Notes | ü Client Software Ø Eudora Ø PINE Ø MS-Outlook Ø Outlook Express |
What you can do with any of the e-mail Software?
ü Send e-mails to an individual or a group of people
ü Receive e-mails
ü Send mails with attachments
ü Reply to / Forward to
ü Delete messages
ü Printing / Saving to file on your computer
ü Organizing mails (making folders and address books)
But for that …….
“You have to CONFIGURE your system”
WHAT EXACTLY IS CONFIGURATION?
Ø Your E-mail does not come automatically to your system.
Ø On invoking the email S/W, it first goes to the E-mail server in which you have registered.
Ø The mail waits for you to go an pick it up with a E-mail software like MS Outlook, Outlook Express etc.
Ø For this you have to give correct information about yourself and only then you are able to collect your mail.
How to configure?
Every email S/W has a procedure of configuring the system. Usually, the steps of configurations are guided through wizard.
