POP vs. IMAP for Google Apps
Google Apps offers businesses, organizations and agencies an online environment in which to communicate and collaborate. Users can set up email accounts for their employees and contractors and use the system to send and receive emails using their business Web domains. Google Apps allows you to download messages from Gmail’s mail servers to your computer, so you can access your email through programs such as Outlook or Thunderbird, if you use POP and IMAP access.
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POP
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POP stands for Post Office Protocol. POP mail is best for users who use only one computer and location to access their email messages. Any messages you receive are automatically transferred to the computer or laptop you’re using, and you can send messages using only your one computer. Google notes that if you use POP you’re more likely to lose messages or see the same message get downloaded more than once.
IMAP
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IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It’s best suited for users who want to access their email from more than one computer, or in more than one location. These messages stay on the server so you can access them from multiple computers and locations. You can respond to messages through the server or through your local computer. Google notes that if you use IMAP, any actions you perform—whether in your Gmail browser or on your mobile device—will result in immediate updates. Google encourages users to use IMAP; it cites IMAP as more stable and flexible.
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Google Apps Requirements
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In order to use POP or IMAP through Google Apps, you must have an eligible account. The feature is available only for Google Apps for Business and Education customers. As a Google Apps Business or Education member, you have to pay a $50 a year/per user fee as of December 2011. Your account allows you to access your email through POP or IMAP, among other features.
Enable Settings
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You can enable POP and IMAP access for your Google Apps account by signing into your administrator account. Select the Settings tab, then click the Email option. In the POP and IMAP Access area, uncheck Disable POP and IMAP Access for All Users in the Domain box.
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