IMAP and SMTP: how your apps connect to Business Email

Business Email uses the two standard email protocols that every mail app understands, which is why it works with practically anything.

IMAP is how your apps read mail. With IMAP, your messages live on the server and your app shows you a synchronised copy. Read a message on your phone and it shows as read on your laptop; file something into a folder and that folder appears everywhere. Nothing is trapped on a single device, and because the master copy stays on the server your mail is safe even if a device is lost.

SMTP is how your apps send mail. When you hit send, your app hands the message to the outgoing (SMTP) server, which authenticates you and delivers it — passing through the correct SPF and DKIM setup so it lands well at the far end.

Together, IMAP and SMTP mean you can set the same mailbox up on your phone, tablet and desktop and have them all stay perfectly in step. We provide the exact server settings, and can walk you through entering them if you'd like.