Incoming Mail Server

An incoming mail server is the server associated with a user's email address account. Each email account has only one incoming mail server. An email client or a program that can retrieve email from an email account is needed to access incoming messages. This email client will allow a user to read, forward and delete email messages, as well as to reply to these messages. Email messages are stored on the incoming mail server until they are downloaded. Incoming mail servers commonly use protocols such as Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).

The main difference between POP3 and IMAP is the ability to download email to the user's computer or leave it on the server. POP3 is generally used to store email on the computer, while IMAP is normally used to keep the email on the server. Incoming mail server for personal email accounts usually use POP3.Depending on which protocol is used, incoming mail servers are often called POP servers or IMAP servers. Keep in mind however that some email services require a premium subscription for POP3 access.

Here are the incoming server addresses for some popular email services:

AOL: imap.aol.com
Gmail: pop.gmail.com
Yahoo!: pop.mail.yahoo.com