(Last edited March 4, 2008)

Most people who buy the Palm or other PDA devices know that they are capable of storing a lot of data and information like appointments, addresses, in it. But what a lot of them are not aware of, is that the Palm can also retrieve and store the emails you receive for work or personal. Yes! There is such a capability for the Palm device! You can use it to go online, log into your email account, retrieve and download all your emails so that you can read and access them, compose your reply and send it back when you’re connected to your home or work computer. And with many Palms now having the capability to access the internet via a variety of ways (Wi-Fi, bluetooth, infrared, dial up, GPRS, via the computer, etc) you can easily access the internet wirelessly (Wi-Fi, GPRS, bluetooth, etc) or wired (ie. using the computer’s internet connection, modem, etc) depending on the capabilities of your Palm device.

VersaMail

Most current Palms come bundled with an email software application (or at least have the capability to do so if the software isn’t bundled with it). VersaMail is usually the email software that comes bundled with a Palm and the one (at least the first one) that most Palm users will likely set up. I personally have not tried VersaMail so I’m not familiar with it. I think I once tried to set it up early on when I first got my Palm and couldn’t get it to work so I removed it. VersaMail, at the time when I was trying to set it up seemed clunky. Maybe at the time I wasn’t really in the mood for configuring the settings but it seemed quite difficult to set up. And, I’ve read in various Palm forums that there are quite a lot of limitations of the software compared to many others available. I guess if it came with the Palm that it was probably worth your time to try to make it work, but for about the same price as a competitor’s product, I would probably check out the competitor and see if they offer more features and seem simpler to use.

If you are interested in setting up VersaMail, here’s a VersaMail setup tutorial page from ncsu.edu that does a great job of providing screenshots and explaining the setup process. Again, as I’ve discussed, you will need to first figure out the very important information such as the email protocol (POP3, etc), incoming mail server address, outgoing (SMTP) mail server address, port number, whether you require authentication, etc. So, you’ll first need to contact your ISP or internet service provider and get all that information.

Accessing GMail with VersaMail

Here are some links to articles that explain how to set up VersaMail to access GMail: TreoCentral’s GMail does work with VersaMail, Accessing gMail using Versamail on your Treo.

Depending on your needs, how you are accessing the internet (whether it via the cradle using your computer’s internet connection and briefly retrieving emails for offline viewing, wirelessly using Wi-Fi, bluetooth, infrared or other wireless protocols, the dial up modem, etc), the software you will use will vary.

What you need is a way for the program to access the internet, so you’ll need to allow the Palm to connect to the internet to retrieve the emails. You will also need an email program that can connect to your internet account, retrieve the emails, and download them into the Palm so that you can view them offline. You may also need special software or accessories to allow you to make the email software to make the connection.

As silly as it may sound, it may not be as simple as plugging in the Palm into the cradle or charger and just run the email software, expecting everything to connect and work. You will most likely need to set up the specific settings, open specific ports in your home internet network, configure the program to connect via those open ports and other things. I’d suggest taking the time to read up on your Palm device manual and the email application’s documentation as they should provide some information on setting up the Palm for internet and email.

Snappermail

I later tried Snappermail and found that it works great. Maybe I have gotten more familiar with the Palm and the software but regardless, I found that Snappermail was a breeze to set up.

Download the file from the internet. Unzip the compressed zip file, and install the SnappermailDemo.prc to your Palm device. Do a Hotsync and the program is installed. Then, run the program and go through setting up the program. Depending on your internet connection (bluetooth, computer LAN, Wi-Fi, etc), you will need to configure the program to make it work and connect to the internet. There is a manual in pdf format included in the zip file that will explain how to install, set up and use the program.

There are several different versions of Snappermail depending on your needs and budget: Lite, Standard, Premier, and Enterprise. The trial download is the same for all the versions. After the trial period, in order to continue using them, you have to pay a license to unlock your version.

The Lite version ($24.95) supports unlimited email accounts, POP3 support, and attachment support. It comes bundled with JpegWatchLite, HandZipperLite and Diddlebug.

The Standard version ($39.95) provides all the features of the Lite version plus html rendering, account segregation, user defined folders, and auto mail delivery. It comes bundled with JpegWatchLite, HandZipperLite and Diddlebug.

The Premier version ($49.95) in addition to the features of Standard version, offers SSL security, and memory card archiving. It comes bundled with SplashPhoto4, HandZipperLite, and Diddlebug.

The Enterprise version ($59.95) offers the additional feature of IMAP4 support over the Premier version. It comes bundled with SplashPhoto4, HandZipperLite, and Diddlebug.

Simulation of Snappermail

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack, MyFileHut

The simulation will play through to the end unless I’ve inserted a pop up note to explain specific points.

To continue playing the simulation, press the button.
To go back to a previous paused segment, click on the button.
To pause the simulation at any time, press the button. To continue after it’s paused, press the button again.

To scroll forward or backward in the simulation, click anywhere on the left (to go back earlier in the simulation), or right (to go forward in the simulation) on the progress bar.

A list of supported IMAP servers are listed here

The nicest thing about SnapperMail is that it supports native attachments in emails, POP3 and works quite well. I didn’t experience any problems setting it up and getting it working and during the trial period, it was great. SnapperMail supports full screen landscape or portrait of devices like the T3, TX.

There’s a FAQ support page, an ISP configuration support page that lists server information for most ISPs.

Configuring Snappermail to access GMail

Here are some links to articles that discuss how to set up Snappermail to access GMail: Snappermail’s support page for Gmail, Gmail Help Center - Configuring Snappermail.

Snappermail also has a Snappermail forum at Yahoo groups for people using Snappermail.

I don’t really have the need to access my email with the Palm since I do a lot of my work from the computer so I don’t have Snappermail or other email programs installed, but from what I’ve experienced, and going by what I’ve read in the forums, Snappermail seems to be a very popular choice for an email app for the Palm.

Chatteremail

Although Snappermail may be popular, but that may be changing, as Snappermail seems to be quite expensive for its highest end version, costing $59.95 to get the IMAP4 support. An alternative to Snappermail, is chatteremail, which supports a bulk of what Snappermail offers and a lot more, at a fraction of the price of $39.95 compared to $59.95 for an equivalent version of Snappermail.

Simulation of Chatteremail

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

I have not tried chatteremail, but if I were looking for an email application, I would definitely try it because the price and features are very interesting and enticing. But, after saying all that, Sammy McLoughlin has mentioned that he was experiencing problems with Chatteremail when he was perfectly happy with Snappermail and went back to it. The link to his thoughts are posted at PalmAddicts here. Again, what may work perfectly for someone may not be for another so always back up your Palm before installing any new programs. And just as a precaution, do a hotsync as well just in case.

The demo version for both Snappermail and Chatteremail has a time trial limit of 30 days which is quite a generous trial period to fully test out the program and determine whether you are comfortable with how it works.

Freeware email software

Here are some freeware email software that may suit those who can’t afford to pay for an email software.

Eudora	e*Mail	Palmlook
Swift Inbox	Swift Outbox

Other popular email applications

And here are some other email applications that aren’t free, but are also popular.

MarkSpace Mail

Aileron Mail

There are so many email applications that work in different ways, from synchronizing and connecting using your computer’s connection via hotsync, to direct wireless access, to accessing your Outlook folders on the computer and many other ways. Rather than trying to provide a long list of them, I will provide some links to sites that have their own list of applications available.

Here’s a link to Dan Harkless’ page of email apps and a comparison page.

And a page from PalmSource’s expert guides on mobile email

Also, another from eMailman

Of course, you can easily do a search for email at Handango and other Palm software download sites for a vast selection of email applications.

Having an email application on the Palm makes it very convenient to retrieve and send emails and stay connected, not necessarily requiring a wireless internet connection as most people may assume. As long as you have your Palm USB charger cable and have installed and configured the email program on your work computer, you can easily connect to the internet using your work computer.

Depending on your needs and budget there should be an application that can offer something that is suitable for you. But, once you have connected yourself to your email accounts, the downside of this is that this is another way for the “office” or work to get a hold of you, even when you’re supposedly not available.

Ahh. The joys of technology.

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: archives categories palm snappermail chatteremail emailapps email versamail eudora markspacemail palmlook swiftinbox swiftoutbox aileronmail essentialapp