IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. Its generally used by mobile phones for accessing your email. Its the system that keeps the inbox on your mobile sync'd with your email servers inbox. Its all very clever and very handy but it doesn't end there...
If like me you use a number of different computers then you'll find this useful for syncing up all your emails. Its simple to set up with Outlook, just go to "tools" - "email accounts" - "add a new email account" then enter the details provided by your email provider. If you use Googles service, enter "imap.gmail.com" in the IMAP box and "smtp.gmail.com" in the SMTP box. Then enter your username and password as usual. Click on "more settings", "outgoing server" and select "my outgoing server (smtp) requires authentication". Then click on the "advanced" tab and enter 993 in the "incoming server (IMAP)" box and 25 in the "outgoing server (SMTP)" box.
Then click "okay/finish". Job done! You'll notice the folders column on your Outlook screen start changing as the new IMAP account takes effect. Within a few minutes you should have a mirror image of whats on your Gmail account in Outlook!
This is great if like me, you enjoy the light and easy to use interface of web based email but still feel more secure and at home with trusty programs like Outlook. Plus, it means you can re-utilise the "right click - send to" function in Windows again which was lost whilst using Gmail on my other computers.
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