How do Mail Servers work ?

50Twuncle

I don't mean "PHYSICALLY" - I mean .......


If I change ISP's - I get to continue to use the existing INCOMING server for a few months (at least that is how BT used to work) - but if I want to send emails, I need the OUTGOING server - which, presumably, I will lose on the day that I change ISP's ?
The reason for this question - is that TTR have promised me ON-GOING use of the OUTGOING and INCOMING mail servers from TTB (which is apparently a totally separate company) - and I frankly don't believe them ....
It is like BT offering use of PLUSNET servers ....??

InsideInsurance

Who/ what are TTB/TTR???

The ability to send/ receive email has absolutely nothing to do with having a web connection with a company. I own dozens of domains and if I wanted I could give/ sell yourname@mydomain.com to whoever I wanted and allow them to use my servers to send and receive their email. It will cost me money, could in theory create a liability and/ or could damage my brand if it was used maliciously by who I gave it to and so I dont.

It is 99% due to commercial reasons that when you stop using ABC as your ISP that they tell you that you can no longer use yourname@abc.com as your email address, it creates an issue for you and thus makes you more reluctant to switch ISPs

GRM

TTR mail settings:
http://help2.talktalk.co.uk/email-settings-imap-pop3

TTB mail settings:
http://talktalkbusiness.force.com/onlineFAQ/articles/FAQ/What-are-the-settings-for-my-TalkTalk-Business-e-mail-account/?l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

Given that TTB don't use authentication for SMTP I wouldn't believe what TTR are saying either.

Strider590

ISPs hijack port 25 traffic to stop spam mail being sent out via their servers, ie to stop people sending mail from addresses that do not belong to that ISP.

In the same way that many now hijack DNS requests on port 53, so that no matter what DNS server you try to use (Google DNS for example), the ISP can spoof the DNS server, block/filter websites and monitor everything you do.

jbainbridge

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Who/ what are TTB/TTR???

It is 99% due to commercial reasons that when you stop using ABC as your ISP that they tell you that you can no longer use [EMAIL="yourname@abc.com"]yourname@abc.com[/EMAIL] as your email address, it creates an issue for you and thus makes you more reluctant to switch ISPs

Indeed. All the more reason to make your email address independent of your ISP e.g. Gmail. I haven't used an ISP email address in 10+ years and advise others to do the same.

50Twuncle

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Who/ what are TTB/TTR???

The ability to send/ receive email has absolutely nothing to do with having a web connection with a company. I own dozens of domains and if I wanted I could give/ sell yourname@mydomain.com to whoever I wanted and allow them to use my servers to send and receive their email. It will cost me money, could in theory create a liability and/ or could damage my brand if it was used maliciously by who I gave it to and so I dont.

It is 99% due to commercial reasons that when you stop using ABC as your ISP that they tell you that you can no longer use yourname@abc.com as your email address, it creates an issue for you and thus makes you more reluctant to switch ISPs

TTR TalkTalk Residential
TTB TalkTalk Business

almillar

50Twuncle - yes, you can send mail through (in your example Talktalk)'s mail servers, for (BT)'s emails. You outgoing maibox will be TT, your incoming will remain BT.
Why you don't just switch to GMail or something, however, as you've previously been advised, is beyond me.

stevemcol

Agree with above, just use a gmail or hotmail account and you can change ISPs as often as you want. I've now had the same hotmail account since 1999 but changed ISPs many times.

kwikbreaks

Strider590 wrote: »

In the same way that many now hijack DNS requests on port 53, so that no matter what DNS server you try to use (Google DNS for example), the ISP can spoof the DNS server, block/filter websites and monitor everything you do.

If you were using something like the OpenDNS web filters it would be immediately apparent if your DNS requests were not going through them. ISPs have no need to use your DNS requests to see what you are doing - every single byte of your data goes through them. Anyway isn't that GCHQ and NSA's job?