DOWNLOAD AOL E-MAIL WITH OUTLOOK

Exchange Messaging Outlook 30 April 2004

"Since the release of Outlook 97, many AOL users wanted to know how to configure Outlook to read AOL e-mail. The answer was always "You can't, AOL uses a proprietary e-mail system". Now they can do it--using an IMAP account to access AOL's mail server. All versions of Outlook can be used, except Outlook 98 or 2000 in Corporate/workgroup mode, since they don't support IMAP accounts.

AOL requires SMTP authentication, using the same username and password used for collecting incoming e-mail, and uses port 587 for their SMTP server. While the immediate reaction from many people was "leave it to AOL to use non-standard ports", it's a smart move in my opinion and I hope other service providers start doing it. AOL users will be able to send e-mail using the AOL SMTP server regardless of how they connect to the SMTP server, as many ISPs now require anyone connected to their network to send email through the ISPs SMTP.

For more information, the server names to use when configuring an AOL account in Outlook, and a link to AOL's online Open Mail Access Help topic, see http://www.slipstick.com/addins/services/online.htm#aol"

Nice. Not that I use AOL, but others in the family do...