Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is the method used to retrieve mail from a POP3 mailbox. Some ISPs supply POP3 mailboxes and some provide Web Based Mail.

POP3 mailboxes reside on a POP3 server. The email in these mailboxes can be retrieved to your PC by using a mail client (or mail program). Mail clients include Microsoft's Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail. The mail client uses POP3 to copy the mail from your POP3 mailbox to your PC. Once the mail has been retrieved you do not need to be connected to the internet while it is being read as the mail client will be reading the retrieved mail on your PC.

A POP3 mailbox cannot send mail. To send mail you need a SMTP server. If your ISP supplies POP3 mailboxes they will also supply you with a SMTP server.

For most of our clients a POP3 mailbox is not required. A POP3 mailbox is only required for clients who require a SMTP server.