How to Read E-mail While Traveling

These methods allow you to send and receive important messages while you are on the road or away from your home computer.

Instructions

Forward Your E-mail to a Web-Based E-mail Site

1. Before leaving home, open an e-mail account with one of the Web-based e-mail services, such as Microsoft Hotmail. Make a note of any access information, including your password. You will need this information when you are traveling.

2. Contact your current Internet service provider or e-mail provider and make arrangements to have your e-mail forwarded automatically to the Web-based account.

3. While you are traveling, you can access your e-mail from any Internet-enabled computer that has a recent version of a Web browser installed.

Use a Mobile Computer, a Palm Device or Other Wireless Device

1. If you have an Internet-enabled laptop computer, take it along on your trip and use it to download your e-mail.

2. Be sure that your mobile computer has your e-mail software installed and configured.

3. While traveling, connect your laptop to an Internet outlet and access your e-mail in the usual way.

4. If you have a Palm or other wireless device that allows you to download e-mail, you may be able to use it to access your e-mail when traveling.

5. Contact your wireless service and ask for instructions.

6. Most Palm devices do not allow you to send or reply to e-mail.

Use a Disk-Based E-mail Software Program or Read Your E-mail With Telnet

1. Acquire a small e-mail program that fits and runs from a diskette, such as The Mail Card.

2. Configure your portable program with your POP account, SMTP server, e-mail user name, password and other necessary information.

3. Refer to the program's Help File when unsure how to proceed.

4. Take the diskette on your journey. When an Internet-enabled computer is available, slide your diskette into the disk drive and run the program.

5. Download your mail and save it on the diskette.

6. Telnet is a way that you can access someone else's computer if they have set up permissions for you do to so. Ask your Internet service provider (or your e-mail provider) if you can access its e-mail server with telnet.

7. If you can, ask your provider to give you the access information that you will need. You will need the host name, your user name, your password and any specific instructions that the host requires.

8. Depending on your operating system and the software installed on the computer you want to use, you may be able to use telnet through a browser, through HyperTerminal (a program included with Windows) or by using a special telnet program. Telnet programs are usually available as freeware or shareware.

9. With telnet, you will always be able to list your e-mail messages, read them, and save them or delete them. You might not be able to reply to or send e-mail.

Tips & Warnings

• Web-based e-mail is a good choice if you will have access to an Internet-enabled computer with a browser installed, perhaps at an Internet cafe or a public computer.

• Contact your Internet service provider and ask whether it has a local telephone number available at your destination. If the answer is yes, it will save you a long-distance charge. If not, you could find yourself with a big phone bill.

• This method works best if you are a light e-mail user. It is a good choice for someone who will have access to another person's computer but who wants a fast and easy way of accessing e-mail. This method is also a good choice for someone who is concerned about the privacy of Web-based e-mail.

• When you use telnet, you are usually accessing a computer through the Unix operating system, which is not easy to master, especially if you are accustomed to Windows software. It is best to practice at home so you know the routine before leaving on your trip.

• Some people have expressed concern regarding the privacy of e-mail that is stored on a Web-based server.

• Be sure to protect your laptop against theft.

• Many Internet cafes and other public computers do not allow you to use the disk drive. This method works best when you will have access to another private computer at your destination.