Email

3. What Do I Need?

Setting up an email system is not as expensive in time and resources as setting up a website, but it does require specialist software.

Sending email within an office and over the Internet may use different systems. Internal office email can normally link to the Internet, but Internet email software cannot normally support internal office email.

3.1 To access Internet email, you will need suitable hardware.

Typically, this will be a PC with a modem connected to a phone line.

• If you already have Internet access, you can use the same connection for email.
• If you use email (or the Internet) a lot, you may want a high-speed connection.
• In a small office, your existing network server should be able to support basic email. As traffic increases, you may need a dedicated email server. Budget between ten to 100Mb of disk space on the server per user for mail storage.

3.2 You will need an account with an Internet service provider (ISP).

• A typical business-oriented ISP will offer unlimited email addresses, and allow you to connect your whole network to the Internet.
• A free ISP may suit light users with a single PC connected to the Internet.

3.3 Email software lets you send, receive and manage messages.

• Make sure software provides support for as many standards as possible, especially new standards.
• If you are using email over your office network, make sure that it can be upgraded to provide a link to the Internet.
• If you are using a stand-alone computer to access Internet mail, you can use your browser or the email software supplied free by your Internet service provider.
• Install special management software to monitor the flow of messages, detect viruses and filter out junk email messages, known as 'spam'.