Enhancement request: POP3 clients and automatic BCC

wibbly · 15 Apr 2003, 03:28 PM

For those POP3 clients that don't do it (ie most of them), how about FastMail having an option to automatically save a copy of sent messages coming through its SMTP server? After all the SMTP server requires authentication, so it 'knows who I am'.

Ideally, this would emulate the 'Save Copy' function when using the compose screen on the FastMail web interface.

Why? Because otherwise I have to remember to BCC myself on all mail I send from my POP3 client, and I often forget. :-(

W

FMRocks · 15 Apr 2003, 03:40 PM

Not a bad idea, as long as it's optional. However, I don't know of an email client that doesn't have the option to save outgoing messeges. Many also do automatic bcc's (I think). My take is that the authentication is merely to prevent spammers, they don't specifically connect to your account, it just confirms that you are one of the many authorized users of the SMTP server. So the service value has to be weighed against the technical complications it may possibly couse.

wibbly · 15 Apr 2003, 03:46 PM

Yup, most POP3 clients enable you to save a copy of outgoing messages - locally. But I want FastMail to be the master repository of my Email, outgoing as well as incoming.

It tends to be very awkward to retrospectively copy mail from my POP3 client's sent mail box to FastMail. And on a number of machines I use a variety of POP3 clients, all for the same FastMail account, so sent mail ends up being shrapnel scattered across a number of machines. It would be ideal to use IMAP throughout, of course, but this isn't an option for me.

W

FMRocks · 15 Apr 2003, 04:00 PM

Why not IMAP, if you don't mind.

wibbly · 15 Apr 2003, 04:09 PM

Actually, mainly because I have a setup that has a sieve script forward selected emails to another (remote, non-FastMail) account, where they are picked up.

I actually want mail sent from that remote account's user to end up in the Fastmail account. The remote account is POP3 only. But the pop3 user(s) can be set up to use the authenticated FastMail SMTP server...

I guess I'm emulating what may, at some point, be do-able with the 'family account' setup which may appear on FastMail at some point, sometime. But I can't wait for that, and there's no garantee the 'family account' will help in this way anyway...

W

FMRocks · 15 Apr 2003, 04:25 PM

Ok, I see your point. But like I said, the possible benefits have to be weighed against the technical engineering that will be needed to do this, since SMTP authentication is not a direct link to your entire account. I am not sure how viable this is, but if easily possible, it might be a good feature to have.

btw, did you see if your client has auto-BCC capabilities?

wibbly · 15 Apr 2003, 11:29 PM

They don't (Lookout, or Lookout Express, or Pocket Lookout ;-))

bitequator · 16 Apr 2003, 09:18 AM

http://www.sperrysoftware.com/jcAlwaysBCC.asp -- 20 bucks (or get one of their bundles)

Be warned, individual addins seem affordable each but quickly add up in total (there are so many things we wish Outlook can do).

A freeware addin would be great! Couldn't find one at http://www.slipstick.com/addins/index.htm / http://www.slipstick.com/addins/gallery/

P.S. Haven't used P Outlook in a while, I wish there's a better solution on that platform (WebIS's @Mail is just band-aid dressing for now)...

15 Apr 2003, 03:28 PM	#1
wibbly Essential Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 213	Enhancement request: POP3 clients and automatic BCC For those POP3 clients that don't do it (ie most of them), how about FastMail having an option to automatically save a copy of sent messages coming through its SMTP server? After all the SMTP server requires authentication, so it 'knows who I am'. Ideally, this would emulate the 'Save Copy' function when using the compose screen on the FastMail web interface. Why? Because otherwise I have to remember to BCC myself on all mail I send from my POP3 client, and I often forget. :-( W

15 Apr 2003, 03:46 PM	#3
wibbly Essential Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 213	Yup, most POP3 clients enable you to save a copy of outgoing messages - locally. But I want FastMail to be the master repository of my Email, outgoing as well as incoming. It tends to be very awkward to retrospectively copy mail from my POP3 client's sent mail box to FastMail. And on a number of machines I use a variety of POP3 clients, all for the same FastMail account, so sent mail ends up being shrapnel scattered across a number of machines. It would be ideal to use IMAP throughout, of course, but this isn't an option for me. W Last edited by wibbly : 15 Apr 2003 at 03:48 PM.

15 Apr 2003, 03:40 PM	#2
FMRocks The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: FM does NOT refer to Fastmail (anymore). Posts: 4,034	Not a bad idea, as long as it's optional. However, I don't know of an email client that doesn't have the option to save outgoing messeges. Many also do automatic bcc's (I think). My take is that the authentication is merely to prevent spammers, they don't specifically connect to your account, it just confirms that you are one of the many authorized users of the SMTP server. So the service value has to be weighed against the technical complications it may possibly couse.

15 Apr 2003, 04:00 PM	#4
FMRocks The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: FM does NOT refer to Fastmail (anymore). Posts: 4,034	Why not IMAP, if you don't mind.

15 Apr 2003, 04:09 PM	#5
wibbly Essential Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 213	Actually, mainly because I have a setup that has a sieve script forward selected emails to another (remote, non-FastMail) account, where they are picked up. I actually want mail sent from that remote account's user to end up in the Fastmail account. The remote account is POP3 only. But the pop3 user(s) can be set up to use the authenticated FastMail SMTP server... I guess I'm emulating what may, at some point, be do-able with the 'family account' setup which may appear on FastMail at some point, sometime. But I can't wait for that, and there's no garantee the 'family account' will help in this way anyway... W

15 Apr 2003, 04:25 PM	#6
FMRocks The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: FM does NOT refer to Fastmail (anymore). Posts: 4,034	Ok, I see your point. But like I said, the possible benefits have to be weighed against the technical engineering that will be needed to do this, since SMTP authentication is not a direct link to your entire account. I am not sure how viable this is, but if easily possible, it might be a good feature to have. btw, did you see if your client has auto-BCC capabilities?

15 Apr 2003, 11:29 PM	#7
wibbly Essential Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 213	They don't (Lookout, or Lookout Express, or Pocket Lookout ;-))

16 Apr 2003, 09:18 AM	#8
bitequator The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,978	http://www.sperrysoftware.com/jcAlwaysBCC.asp -- 20 bucks (or get one of their bundles) Be warned, individual addins seem affordable each but quickly add up in total (there are so many things we wish Outlook can do). A freeware addin would be great! Couldn't find one at http://www.slipstick.com/addins/index.htm / http://www.slipstick.com/addins/gallery/ P.S. Haven't used P Outlook in a while, I wish there's a better solution on that platform (WebIS's @Mail is just band-aid dressing for now)...