- GETTING ON LINE -

The most popular use of the WWWeb is to communicate free with your friends and family using electronic mail (E-Mail).  This is a simple explanation of how it works:

E-Mail service is provided by ISP's via cyber space computerized post offices called "mail servers".  Your E-Mail address ties you to a private mail box in one of these servers, and you `key' for opening your mail box is your password.

When you `send' an E-Mail you are using what is known as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) which routes the mail to the addressees post office and private mail box.  When you `receive' an E-Mail, Post Office Protocol (POP) is being used to retrieve your E-Mail from your mail box on your server and transfer it to your PC `inbox'.  Your E-Mail accounts on your PC contain an outgoing post office address like "smtp.earthlink.net", and incoming mail address like "pop.earthlink.net".  Your E-Mail address (like `yourname@earthlink.net') is the tie between the sender and your mailbox on your server.