Kmail thing is some kind of special. I usually use webmail but since I configured Kmail it runs in the background every time I use kopete. I don't see it in task manager (haven't checked ps) but I know it's checking mail as I get error dialogs when it cannot find server. Check this output when I run kopete:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ kopete kopete(13791) Kopete::IdentityManager::load: Created identity "UHz4c9NERi" kopete(13791) KDBusServiceStarter::startServiceFor: starting "/usr/share/applications/kde4/KMail.desktop" kopete(13791) KDBusServiceStarter::findServiceFor: DBus service is available now, as "org.kde.kmail" Please, send me link if you report a bug. -- Ramon Antonio Parada Skype: ramon.parada Spain: +34 651 948819 US: +1 (310) 651-8072 http://ramonantonio.net/

