I wrote several emails to AOL badgering them about the breaking of the dial-up connection to AOL. I got back several non-responsive emails until the one I'm going to attach below, which indicates that the "problem" now lies with the IMAP protocol. I don't know enough about all this to know whether this is indeed the problem or not, but maybe somebody reading this will know. The second "half" of the response has to do with using a Mac which runs OS X, which is useless if one is not using OS X. Also, they don't seem to understand that Apple is not reponsible for Emailer either.
Hope this may be a useful step along the line of "fixing" the problem. Cheers! Received from AOL tech: Hi! I'm Vinee from the TechMail Department.Thank you so much for writing back and keeping us updated with your concern. I understand from your recent e-mail that you have questions about using other e-mail programs (Claris Emailer) with AOL Please allow me to explain that you can now send and receive your AOL Mail using any e-mail program, as long as it supports the IMAP protocol. You get all the great features AOL e-mail has to offer, and the flexibility to read and send e-mail via a third-party e-mail client. I suggest you store or print a copy of this e-mail for future reference. The incoming e-mail server is an IMAP server. You will need to ensure that your e-mail application supports the IMAP protocol and will have to select IMAP at some point during the setup process. The outgoing e-mail server is an SMTP server. The SMTP server requires authentication, and you will have to select this feature at some point during the setup process. Using an authenticated SMTP server means that in order to send e-mail you must log in the SMTP server with a user name and password. The user name and password are the same as your AOL Screen Name and password. Setting up access to the AOL Mail servers is relatively simple, and the settings are similar for most e-mail applications. The basic information that you need is as follows: Your e-mail address is [EMAIL PROTECTED] Be sure to include @aol.com suffix. The Incoming mail (IMAP) server address is: imap.aol.com The Outgoing mail (SMTP) server address is: smtp.aol.com In addition, you need to change the outgoing mail (SMTP) port number to 587. If you need more assistance configuring your e-mail software, check the program Help files or visit the Manufacturer's Web site. You should be able to find the assistance you need. Since Apple acquired the program from Claris, Apple provides support for this software. You can visit Apple's Product Support service web page at: http://www.info.apple.com Or you may contact Apple through the number below: 800-APLCARE (800-275-2273) However, if you are using MAC OS X, I am happy to report that AOL has developed a new mail reader called AOL Communicator that provides a convenient, flexible and more powerful way to manage all your e-mail. With AOL Communicator, you can better organize mail with features that sort, filter and search messages, plus save mail in folders. AOL Communicator Mail makes managing attachments simple and helps eliminate unwanted mail with advanced spam filtering that learns over time what you consider to be spam. Because your AOL Address Book is automatically loaded into the AOL Communicator Address Book every time you log in, contacts are always up-to-date and at your fingertips. AOL Communicator is available only to AOL members at no additional charge. If your work account, school account, or Internet Service Provider's e-mail uses either the IMAP or POP protocols, then in most cases AOL Communicator can be used to read, send, sort, and save mail. AOL Communicator Mail is a convenient one-stop mail application that lets you read and send mail from many mail accounts at the same time. To configure these accounts, you will need to check with your mail provider or administrator and ask them for the specific names of "Incoming" and "Outgoing" mail servers. This information is essential as you go through the step-by-step process of setting up mail accounts. Often it is available on your e-mail provider's website or within their help system. For more information, you can visit AOL Keyword: AOL Communicator. In addition, you may want to try another great feature of our service: AOL Mail on the Web. AOL Mail on the Web allows you to send and receive e-mail on the Internet without using the AOL software. To access AOL Mail on the Web, please visit this site: http://aolmail.aol.com I greatly appreciate that you have forwarded your concerns and that you have given me a chance to assist you with this matter.� Take care always�and have an excellent day. Vinee T. Customer Care Consultant The TechMail Department America Online, Inc. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a mail message with a SUBJECT line of "unsubscribe" to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
