While Open Webmail has done a decent job for us over the last couple years, it has not been without it's quirks. Recently we had issues sending attachments where the program would just bomb out for no reason. After exhausting all of our resources, we implemented a solution that is effective, but had the result of slowing down the process of sending mail to 10-15 seconds per message. It's not a great solution but at least it is not breaking anymore.

In seeking alternative solutions for Open Webmail, I discovered that gmail will do the job nicely.

Why use gmail to check your mail instead of WebEditor's Webmail Program?

1. They have the money to invest in web-based e-mail and they have produced a nice program
2. It's free
3. You can use your own return address -- You do not need to use the gmail e-mail address
4. They give you 2 gigs free and can be upgraded to more for a nominal cost
5. You can set it up to pull the mail from my server or leave it on my server to be downloaded at a later date with Outlook.

Press the play button below to watch a Flash Demonstration of configuring gmail.

Configuring Gmail to Display Your Proper Retrun Address

1. Go through the process of setting up a gmail account and log in.

2. Click 'Settings' in the upper right corner of the screen

3. Click 'Accounts' Tab

4. Click 'Add another email address'

5. Put in your name and e-mail address

6. Click 'Next Step'

7. Click 'Send Verification'

8. Access your mail to get the verification message sent to you from google.

9. Click the link in the e-mail to verify your address. Or copy and paste the verification code to the window.

10. Go back to gmail settings and then accounts (as outlined in steps 2 and 3)

11. Click the 'make default' link next to your e-mail address.

Now you can send e-mail from your gmail account with your proper return e-mail address.

Setup Outlook to Pull Mail from Your POP Account on WebEditor's Mail Server

Note: gmail's spam filtering is overaggressive. YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SPAM folder on gmail. It catches way too many legitimate e-mails. There is currently no way to disable their spam filtering feature

1. Click 'Settings' in the upper right corner of the screen

2. Click 'Accounts' Tab

3. In the Section 'Get mail from other accounts' click 'Add another mail account'

4. Type in your e-mail address (not your gmail account, but the address where you receive your mail)

5. Click 'Next Step'

6. Where is says username, enter your POP account username (not your full e-mail address)

7. Enter your password

8. Enter the pop server as: mail.cgicafe.com

9. Optional You can leave the mail on WebEditor's servers to be downloaded at a later date with a program like outlook be clicking the 'Leave a copy of retrieved message on the server.' checkbox. (Note Please do not do this unless you are planning on pullin the mail off later using a different program. If you simply leave the mail on my server the mailbox will continue to grow until it becomes way too big.)

10. Click 'Add Account'

11. Click 'All Mail' on the list of folders on the left to read your mail pulled from your account on WebEditor's server.