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Email: Problems Sending Emails? :: SMTP Relay Server

(Mon Sep 3rd, 2007, by Mike)

SMTP is the protocol used to send email over the Internet. When you send an email it gets sent to your SMTP server, which then forwards it to the recipient of your email. Obviously in order to send email you need an SMTP server that works! SMTP2Go is an SMTP server that works all the time, wherever you are in the world.

Why would I need SMTP2Go? You might have experienced difficulties sending emails from your laptop or PDA from more than one location (e.g. at home, at work, staying in a hotel, visiting another city or country). This is because the SMTP server assigned to you by your ISP only actually works when you're connected to the Internet through that ISP. As soon as you connect to the Internet through a different network you lose your ability to send emails! This is a security measure used by ISPs to prevent people sending spam through their servers, but it's also an annoying problem for laptop and PDA users who want to be able to use their email on the go.

Why can't I just use Hotmail? Many mobile users switch backwards and forwards between their regular email program and a web-based email program like Hotmail. Obviously it's possible to use a web-based program anywhere in the world, but these systems have their own drawbacks. Not only do you have to send mail from a highly unprofessional email address (steve8564@hotmail.com, for instance), but it's also hard to keep track of your emails when you're hopping between your different email accounts. Who needs the drama? Wouldn't it be better to just use the same account, and the same email program, wherever you are? That's what we think.

Can't I just change my SMTP server to the SMTP server of my current network? You could, if you could find it. Often these can be extremely difficult to find, or simply not available at all. You also need to do this for each and every different location. Every time you want to send an email... you first need to find the SMTP server. Tedious? Very! Using SMTP2Go means changing your settings once, and then never having to change them again. SMTP2Go works anywhere, regardless of location or service provider.

What if I have more than one email address I want to send from? Can I use my work email address and my home email address? Yes, we've thought of that! SMTP2Go lets you send emails from up to 5 different email addresses, from the same account. This means that you can continue to send work emails from your work email address, and personal emails from your home email address (or any other email addresses) all in the one account.

Is SMTP2Go easy to set up? Setting up SMTP2Go is no more difficult than entering your email settings for your regular ISP. You simply type smtp2go.com into your program's settings. Just to make it easier, though, we've got setup instructions for most mail programs (both Windows and Mac). View the 2 minute setup.

Will SMTP2Go work even if port 25 is blocked? Yes, SMTP2Go is open on 3 different ports (25, 2525, and 8025). We recommend using port 2525. (Again, full setup instructions are available in our 2 minute setup.)

If you think SMTP2Go sounds like just what you need, we've got a range of flexible plans starting at less than $2 per month. How much you pay depends on how many emails you want to send each month. (Note: An email sent to multiple recipients counts as multiple emails. So if you enter 5 email addresses in your "To:" field, and also enter 4 other addresses in your "Cc:" field, that counts as sending 9 emails.)

Problems Sending Emails?

About the Author

Mike