Internet Basics – the components The main functions of the Internet are the capability to send and receive e-mail, publish and interact on the WWW, send and receive files, and participate in discussion groups throughout the world. E-mail (electronic mail) The most used and popular way to communicate through the Internet is by using e-mail. You can send a message to anyone, anywhere, anytime, almost instantaneously, if both parties have access to the Internet. You can exchange e-mail with millions of people all over the world. E-mail is used to send messages and attached computer files to other Internet users. After the e-mail is delivered, the recipient can reply to the e-mail and also attach files for its return journey. The same message can be addressed to multiple recipients for fast, time saving distribution. E-mail is the primary method for participating in discussion groups on the Internet, such as listservs and newsgroups. See also Chapter 3, E-mail –Killer Application for the Nineties. E-mail Addresses contain the name and location protocol where the mail will be sent. They have a user’s name, the @ sign, the name of the user’s domain or computer, a period and the type of organization. For example, my e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The user’s name is Michael, the @ sign, the user’s domain or computer is Arkfeld, and the com stands for commercial. Since I have my own domain name - arkfeld.com - my mail can be sent to my domain address. If I change ISP’s, I can keep my e-mail address the same, since I can take my domain name with me to a new ISP.
When you sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), they generally provide you with the last part of your e-mail address. For example, if you sign up for America Online, the e-mail address would be This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . There are no two e-mail names or addresses the same. Internet addresses can come in all sizes and shapes. Some addresses are long and contain a variety of symbols such as % signs, exclamation points, and so on. If unsure of someone’s e-mail address, try to send e-mail and then call the person to find out if they received it or ask the person to respond if they received the e-mail. E-mail software lets you send computer files, generally called attachments, along with the e-mail. These attachments can be software, graphic, spreadsheet, or document files. The process of sending attachments is called MIME encoding. MIME stands for Multipurpose Internet Mail extensions. E-mail Acronyms. The following acronyms are used frequently on the web in e-mails, listservs, etc.:
Features and Products. Features to look for in an Internet e-mail program:
Communication is considerably easier using e-mail to communicate with clients, witnesses, relatives or anyone with an Internet connection. |