Electronic Mail

Last updated on June 26, 1996

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Probably the most heavily and frequently used Internet service is electronic mail. All electronic mail is sent and received on the Internet using SMTP (Standard Mail Transfer Protocol) addresses. An SMTP address has the following general format:

WHO	AT	WHERE
`userid`	`@`	`hosthame.domain`

Examples:
jqpublic@gtcc.cc.nc.us jqpublic@nr.infi.net jqpublic@hamlet.uncg.edu

The SMTP provides you with some information about the recipient's email account - the name of the host computer (hostname), the abbreviated name of the institution (hostname), and the nature or geographic location (domain) of the institution hosting the account. Here are some common Internet domain acronyms for sites located within the United States:

Domain	Description
`.com`	Commercial and corporate sites
`.edu`	Educational institutions
`.gov`	Government sites
`.mil`	Military sites
`.org`	Sites of associations, organizations, etc.
`.net`	Network sites

When you establish your Internet connection you will be able to send and receive email messages from anyone else who is connected to the Internet. All you need to know is the recipient's email address (SMTP). All your friends and associates need to know is your email address. Contact your service provider for the precise format of the SMTP address that is required. Most providers don't require any special formatting of the SMTP other than the standard protocol you see in the table and examples above.

Your Internet Service provider should supply you with a Windows shareware program like EUDORA or CLARIS and a POP (Point of Presence) email account. Some providers may opt to set you up with a Unix shell account and give you access to email through a Unix-based email program like PINE or ELM. Regardless, all these email programs are menu-driven and very easy to use. Nearly all allow you to organize or archive received message in folders you can create, rearrange and delete. Most also allow you to create lists of email recipients with special nicknames. You can send the same email message to everyone associated with a nickname at one type. Email also allows you to subscribe to list servers.