What is the Difference Between SMTP and POP?
There are two standards currently used for most e-mail sent today. SMTP stands for simple mail transfer protocol. POP is an acronym Post Office Protocol. Though it may sound confusing, the difference is not hard to understand. POP is a protocol for storage of email. SMTP is a protocol for sending and receiving. To give a real-world illustration, SMTP would be like a letter carrier or mailman. He or she can deliver or pick up mail for transfer to another location. POP is like a mailbox or Post Office Box. It is the location the mail is delivered to and where it stays until the recipient is ready to read it. Outgoing mail can also be put in the mailbox. SMTP is the standard by which the vast majority of mail of transferred on the Internet. Though invented in the early 1980s, it has a reputation for being very reliable. Most mail goes through without problems and gets to the recipient quickly. However, SMTP also has some shortcomings that were not anticipated when it was first created, an
