  |
||
-AltaVista Mail-What is it, How it WorksWhat is AltaVista Mail?
Q: What is AltaVista Mail? A: AltaVista Mail is a client/server messaging system that provides reliable, low-cost, and easy-to-manage messaging services for LANs, intranets, and the Internet. Within a company or across the Internet, AltaVista Mail is a powerful electronic mail system that brings companies the power of OnSite Correspondence. AltaVista Mail is an SMTP and POP3 Server, offering full native support of Internet protocols to provide a rich set of messaging services for mail connectivity. The flexible design provides a solution for inter- and intra-organization exchange of electronic mail using universally accepted Internet protocols. AltaVista Mail is the first of a suite of products designed to make it easy for groups, departments, and organizations to exchange electronic mail using the Internet. Q: How can I use it in my business? A: AltaVista Mail supports any POP3-compliant mail client. This means that groups of Windows 95, Macintosh, and Motif users supporting POP3 mail clients can connect to AltaVista Mail on a Windows NT server. AltaVista Mail allows all users of these platforms to exchange electronic mail with colleagues in the organization and with colleagues, partners, suppliers, and customers across the Internet. For users of Web browsers, AltaVista Mail complements the Netscape Navigator 2.0 mail client by enabling Netscape users to exchange electronic mail with coworkers on their LAN and over the Internet. For businesses standardizing on Microsoft Exchange, AltaVista Mail works well with the Microsoft Exchange Windows 95 client. You only require either Microsoft Plus! Companion for Windows 95 or the Microsoft Internet Explorer (available over the Internet from Microsoft).
A: We do not have a gateway that explicitly connects Microsoft Exchange with AltaVista Mail. As discussed under the preceding question, you can connect the Exchange client or Inbox to AltaVista Mail with SMTP and POP3 protocol using the Internet Explorer transport provider. However, the Exchange server has an SMTP connector that you can buy from Microsoft. This allows the Exchange server to connect directly to AltaVista Mail using SMTP in both directions. This makes the Exchange server appear as another SMTP domain to AltaVista Mail. Q: What do I need to run AltaVista Mail? A: AltaVista Mail installs on an Intel or Alpha system (5 Mb of disk space and 16 Mb of memory) running Windows NT V3.51. TCP/IP is required to connect users to the server running AltaVista Mail. Any POP3 (Post Office Protocol) electronic mail client can connect to the AltaVista Mail server. Q: How do I set up AltaVista Mail? A: A Windows interface or standard Web browser leads you through the setup and administrative tasks. Context-sensitive help, coupled with an intuitive graphic interface, gives you easy access on operations information. With AltaVista Mail, there's no need for complex manuals or printed documentation. Q: How much training will I need to set up and use this mail system? A: Setup, configuration, and management of AltaVista Mail is simple and uncomplicated. You don't need to be an electronic mail or system specialist. That's why AltaVista Mail is ideal for small businesses or remote branch offices that don't have or can't afford system administrators with e-mail expertise. For example, a Windows interface or standard Web browser leads you through setup and administrative tasks. Context-sensitive help is also available. There's no need for you to study complex manuals to set up AltaVista Mail. Q: What types of networks does AltaVista Mail support? A: AltaVista Mail is an open client/server messaging system based on Internet standards and protocols. Unlike other electronic mail systems that claim to have native Internet capability, AltaVista is the genuine article. Add-on software gateways or connectors are not required for Internet connectivity. AltaVista Mail, which can run over any TCP/IP network, is the alternative to proprietary e-mail.
A: Besides TCP/IP, AltaVista Mail supports the following open standards:
Q: What other administrative features does AltaVista support? A: AltaVista Mail is designed with easy, cost-effective administration in mind. Once your mail network is configured, AltaVista Mail runs continuously (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), requiring almost no routine maintenance. Self-testing, self-checking, and self-repairing, AltaVista Mail will automatically switch to alternate routing when necessary. You also have the ability to set up mailing lists and administer non-delivery notifications via a designated individual. Q: What operations management tools are provided? A: For operational management, such as adding new users, graphical administration tools are provided. You can use either Windows NT or Web browser interfaces. Also, full operational, error, and security logging are supported and are accessible from the administration tools. Q: What if my company can't afford full-time connectivity to an Internet Service Provider? A: AltaVista Mail features both dial-up or full-time connectivity. This means that small businesses that are only occasionally connected to an Internet Service Provider can also benefit from the strengths of AltaVista Mail. | ||