Gmail Now Has IMAP Support

That is fantastic!

Except that it doesn't seem to be enabled on my account yet...

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=79344

 

I apologize for my ignorance, but what are the advantages of imap over pop?

 

IMAP is like a proper 2 way syncronisation with the server, you have a local cache, but the server is the master copy. Great for use on multiple machines.
Files are only downloaded on demand, and partial fetches are uses (eg headers only), makes it faster than pop.

 

Want to set up my main email as Gmail address but regarding still keeping my old emails under a different old pop3 non-Gmail address, I guess I would just need to archive these in my client rather than trying to bring them into my IMAP folders or is that even possible to do with old email, transfer them to new Gmail IMAP account? Thanks.

Gary

 

With POP3 all your email is basically downloaded to your computer and removed from the server.
With IMAP the server holds all the email, including the folders that you organize and the email client only gets the headers. When you open an email, you basically download the body from the server, as opposed to reading it from local disk.

The advantage is that the email is always complete, wherever you access it, at home, in your office, in an internet cafe, in the library. Also it doesn't matter that you use Outlook Express today and Mozilla Thunderbird tomorrow and something else the day after. There is no need to convert anything, as long as your preferred email program supports IMAP.

The disadvantage is that you always need to be connected (dial-up) when you want to read email.

 

You should setup email fetch.
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=21288

 

Thanks for that. I guess I am talking about all the email messages I keep in my old POP3 account (not a GMail pop address) which is on my HDD. If I wanted to transfer these messages to the Gmail IMAP account from my client TheBat!, could this be done and if so, how? Thanks.

Gary

 

In short, I am asking if there is a way to import from client old POP3 messages from a non-0Gmail address? Thanks.

Gary

 

If I'm getting it right, IMAP downloads all the headers, keeping messages in the server, and if I want to read a message, it downloads that single message instead of downloading ALL the full messages at startup?

If I can use different clients at different computers/locations, are the headers stored somwhere, or does it download all of them each time?

 

If I understand you correctly, then you want to upload local email from your email program into the IMAP server of gmail.
Yes, that is possible, when you have IMAP access setup, you simply drag all the email from The Bat to the inbox of gmail.

I don't have IMAP on gmail myself yet, so I can't verify. But this is a supported feature of the IMAP protocol.

 

That is correct. Unless you tell your email program to do it different.

If you use the same computer, then the local headers will only be updated. When you access the IMAP from anywhere else, all headers will be downloaded. Usually only from the inbox and not from the subfolders, though.

Also:
When you send email, it gets uploaded to the sent folder of the IMAP server, which means that all your sent email will be available too wherever you connect to the server.

 

Thanks. I might have to play with this a bit and see how it would do.

Gary

 

GMail with IMAP works great here

 

I have to change from Eng(GB) to Eng(US) to enable my IMAP, but works a treat.
Just need to work out how to sync my contacts and calendar with Outlook and I will be happy.

 

Still only POP on my account, despite I have English(US) as my language.
Is IMAP offered worldwide or are they gonig to expand the service gradually?

 

They are rolling it out across all their servers, I guess it will take a week or so for everyone to get IMAP.

 

Turn Thunderbird into the Ultimate Gmail IMAP Client

One of my accounts has IMAP now,and I'm impressed.
Gmail over IMAP is without doubt the fastest email connection since sliced bread.

 

You know, I have no issues with my pop account, but I still will switch to imap to see what it's about. Unless, of course, some member(s) are willing to play devil's advocate and tell me why I should stay with pop.

 

IMAP is painfully slow for me, I have over 70000 emails and downloading the headers takes a long time (at home and work), then every now and again they need refreshing and I have to wait approx 1 minute.
I am hoping theres some settings i can tweak in Outlook.

 

I did a quick test in Outlook Express:
drag a message from a different account to the Gmail IMAP inbox, it works!
The message showed up on the web interface.
So, I guess, there are no upload sync problems.

"But this is a supported feature of the IMAP protocol."
I hope they comply with all the IMAP features, because a lot of people -myself included- complained about the lack of "delete" command in Gmail's POP3.

 

I archive most messages, so my inbox doesn't hold that many items.
The gmail filters I have setup make sure that the 'folders' are filled automagically.

 

I have tried archiving my gmail(imap) in outlook and it does nothing.
I shall investigate further when I have time.

 

I think simple way is to logon to gmail account and check the email from there rather doing the same from any email client. After all how long does it take and using IMAP is as good as reading emails directly from gmail