IMAP

FREE UPGRADE TO IMAP

PSP, Inc. is now offering IMAP as an alternative to POP. When choosing between POP vs. IMAP you will need to take into account what you need out of your Email services. Sign up today for PSP, Inc.'s upgrade today

Outlook 2003 Manual
Outlook 2007 Manual
Outlook 2010 Manual
Thunderbird Manual
Windows Live Mail 2009 Manual
Windows Live Mail 2011 Manual
Android Smartphone Manual
iPhone Smartphone Manual

POP vs IMAP Comparison

  • GoodGood
  • FairFair
  • PoorPoor
FUNCTIONPOPIMAP
Accessibility Fair Messages are transferred from the server to the local machine. Only new messages are available if you connect to the server using a PC other than your normal one. Good Incoming messages stay on the server when you check your mail. Messages are always available no matter where or how you connect to the server.
Speed Good You can view your emails even if you are not connected to the internet. Fair The more e-mail you have, the slower it takes to synchronize.
Security Fair Local copies of messages are vulnerable to data loss or security threats. Good Because mail is stored on the server, it is harder for unauthorized users to access mail.
Space on local drive Fair Mail can fill up your local drive. Good Mail is stored on the server.
Data migration (PC to PC) Fair There are steps to take to carefully migrate. Good Migration to a new PC is fast and easy. All e-mails are taken from the server and not locally.
Data migration (PC to Mac) Fair Good
Safe from losing data Fair If mail is accidently deleted from your local computer, it is gone forever. (Unless saved on the server) Good Servers will always have your mail unless it is confirmed for deletion.
Organized Fair Creating mailboxes can only be done on your local machine. Good You can create mailboxes directly on the server.
Inbox size limit Good As long as there is space on the disk, there should be no limit. Good As long as there is space on the disk, there should be no limit.
Backups Good Backups can easily be made from your local machine. Good Backups can be made with access to the server.
Maintenance Good POP is a simple mail protocol that is easy to maintain. Fair IMAP is a slightly more complex and advanced to maintain.
COMMON TASKS 
Transfer mail from PC to Server and vice versa Poor You cannot transfer any messages from your local machine to the server. Good You can move messages from your local machine to the server, and vice versa.
Move messages in and out of mailboxes. Fair You can move messages in and out of mailboxes only on your local machine. Good You can move messages in and out of mailboxes on the server and on your local machine.
COMPATIABLE CLIENTS 
Office Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 Good   Good  
Windows Live Mail 2009, 2011 Good   Good  
Thunderbird 3.1.x Good   Good  
iPhone 3.0, 4.0 Good   Good  
Android 2.x Fair   Good  
Windows Phone 6.5.x, 7 Good   Good  
FEATURES 
Anti-virus Good   Good  
Anti-spam Good   Good  
Spam box Good   Good  
Web admin Good   Good  
  • GoodGood
  • FairFair
  • PoorPoor