Now, let's try out that POP3 mail account!

Fortunately, you are provided with an SMTP server address to use, but more on this later. All went well at the signup page and I was pleased with how smooth everything went, so far. When I began to connect for the first time after configuring Pocket Outlook's Inbox to use TeleBot, I received the error you see in Figure H.

FIGURE H


This appeared to be a somewhat common dialog box with a known fix. Roll over picture for a larger image.

I tried placing a pair of brackets (i.e., "<> ") around the destination email address I was trying, as this is commonly the solution to this error. But, to my despair, it didn't help. I tried repeatedly to send the message but it failed each time with the same error.

So, I gave up hope for their SMTP server, but not their POP3 server. For now, one was finally working. I used my own ISP's SMTP server instead and after twenty-seven nervous seconds, my message went through! So, I've come to conclude that this service will work if you use another SMTP server.

This service initially appeared to go so smoothly that I was disappointed at the overall outcome but, since I had two more chances to try, I continued on.

Populus Mail
This service takes a different approach than the rest so far. It is email and email only, as you can read at the top of Figure I, a shot of Populus' signup page.

FIGURE I


Populus is up-front and honest that they only offer email. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Also, they do provide forwarding service, but their main priority is POP3 access. Their web site stressed the importance of POP3 access because of the limited time needed to connect to do your work and I very much agree.

As for the features of your Populus Mail account, you are limited to messages of five hundred kilobytes in size -- so this may be a bit tight if you like to send large files back and forth with your CE device. You are again limited to sending one message to fifty recipients at a time, as well as the number of daily messages. They make claims that the limit is high enough for most users and it should not be a problem. So, how do they expect to cover the costs of you using their service?

They've come up with a system in which they first acquire your basic information and then you take a small survey following that first page. This provides them with your interests so that they send you appropriate advertisements, though they claim that these messages are only from legitimate companies. You can even block certain types of advertisements. This sounded reasonable enough for a free service so I decided to continue on.

I grew a bit anxious as the questions continued on about all sorts of information about me and was pleased when it finally ended. I then received an email at my existing address about how to configure my system to collect and send POP3 mail and quickly entered the corresponding information into my Velo 500. I connected to the Internet and began logging into my account and saw that I had reached another annoying error message.