Internet Communications
Email Info
Email is short
for Electronic Mail. In order for an email account to work, you need to have
a few things. First you need an email provider or server. This often comes with
your internet service provider such as AOL. Then you need to have the software
for email, which is often called the client-software, loaded on your computer.
Thirdly, you need to have an email account, which will require a username and
password normally. By the way, the process going on when you enter a username
and password is called authentication. Authentication is the server checking
the user's credentials, almost like when a bouncer at a night club checks ID,
the authentication process is designed to allow only those who are supposed
to be in that account in that account.
Email is sent via a data packet. The packet is sent through the internet wires,
to the specified address, much as a parcel is sent via the US mail, except for
much, much, faster! The packet sits there (on the server) until the participant
checks his/her mail and then deletes it.