Checking webmail - alternative methods - DNS Issue with BT/Virgin?

[Haze]

HI All,

I wondered whether anyone could recommend a method of checking webmail? I of course have webmail set up on client sites as part of their hosting package but I was really thinking of alternative sources for accessing webmail. I have recommended mail2web to customers recently because of the dns issues with bt/virgin whilst their dns re-propagates; I used mail2web myself years ago and found it an excellent service but at that time it didn't advertise hosting and other services as blatantly. But it would be nice to have a sort of whitelabel-type which doesn't have advertising for hosting, etc. on it. Just a query in case there is something worth recommending to clients.

[Tony]

googlemail?

Set it to import all your different email accounts and reply from them

[suedenem]

So you want a way to access webmail without using webmail?  

You do realise that 'webmail' is just a browser-based front-end to email, don't you?  

So really, you want a way of accessing email other than webmail?  Or do you want an alternative Web mail service than those bundled with tin-pot hosting packages?

You could always just give your clients POP3/SMTP/IMAP account details so they can set up their email clients.  Alternatively, look into hosted Exchange - all you'd have to do is add/edit a few DNS records and let the email provider do the rest.

Just don't forget to charge your client for any config work...

[Haze]

As mentioned above I have recommended accessing through mail2web when issues arise as has done in the last week with bt/virgin dns. All clients get their POP3, etc, details, a few of them just can't be bothered to set up their email clients and use webmail but with the recent issue they've not been able to access emails at all. Will just continue with the mail2web for the moment as this has been working for them, but will look into hosted Exchange too. Thanks for the comments.

[Rosco]

If the bt or virgin dns servers sometimes can't resolve your clients domains then thery're just as likely to sometimes not be able to resolve mail2web.com either, or whatever other web based service you're wanting us to tell you about.  They all have domain names, which all need to be resolved by a dns server.

Your clients' broadband support issues aren't your concern Andy... its got nothing to do with web design, development or hosting

[sarahA]

We suggest setting up Google or Yahoo to check pop accounts if the client either needs a backup (as you say, ISP's own DNS issues do arise and the server's own webmail and POP accounts don't work for them during that period of time), or we have one client who uses Google as they don't want to download their emails to their computer (don't ask me why!).

GMail is very easy to configure for this however either just tell the customer where they can set this up or charge for setting it up. As Rosco said, ISP issues are not your fault so don't be doing anything for free.

[Haze]

Hi Rosco,

Yeah exactly, very true. I have recommended the clients concerned to contact BT, but I expect they probably wont and BT will get off scot free as always. The guys at my hosting supplier generated new dns which I've added to the client sites, but then again how long are these going to last before something goes wrong...? And I am sure it probably will....

[Rosco]

Alternatively, look into hosted Exchange - all you'd have to do is add/edit a few DNS records and let the email provider do the rest.

for the love of God, shush man!

[Rosco]

Hi Rosco,

Yeah exactly, very true. I have recommended the clients concerned to contact BT

then job done... make yourself a cup of tea and forget about it

[Haze]

I've been keeping an eye on the forum at http://community.bt.com/t5/Broadband-in-the-home/BT-DNS-problems-on-co-uk-domains/m-p/7653 and it looks as though no one really knows who is to blame, although some of the posters are blaming the hosting companies... all very odd.The blame seems to be getting passed from one person to another. Has anyone else encountered this BT/Virgin issue over the last few days?

[Rosco]

I'm with Virgin at home, no issues here (north-west Glasgow)

In any case, if you're not with BT or Virgin and/or your own DNS requests are being resolved  - i.e. you can see anything hosted on the domains in question (website, email/'webmail', ftp etc etc) -  then why aren't you simply enjoying that cup of tea? Unless you actually fancy a career progression in overseas call centres then it. is. not. your. problem.

[Chris H]

I'm with Virgin but have been using the openDNS service for a year or so, no issues.

[MattC]

 

[sarahA]

BT and Virgin (and I also found someone on Sky.com with a problem) will blame the hosts as most first line support don't even know what a DNS cache is!

We had exactly the same issue on Virgin, we could access most sites on our server but not a certain few. Sky and BT had the same and any ISP that resells for BT also suffered.

[Haze]

But when you get folk contacting you because they can't see their site, or access their emails, what do you tell them?
I believe with SiteHQ we have got around the issue by changing DNS, Good old SHQ.

[MattC]

But when you get folk contacting you because they can't see their site, or access their emails, what do you tell them?

Well, I got rid of all but a few of my clients years ago but in those situations I used to tell them (Normally only once) "Sorry but that's an issue with a network that I have no control over" and "Nothing I did caused the issue and nothing I can do will resolve it"

Stop making a rod for your own back Andy, the more you try to help these people with things that are not your problem the more they'll keep thinking it's ok to contact you about them and therefore waste even more of your precious time.

hth


Matt

[Haze]

Aye I know.... wont be doing it again... 

[Haze]

Had someone else contact me with email problems.... waiting for them to confirm they are BT customers... blooming heck... HAve pointed them in BT's direction..... might just get an autoresponse set up, and reply to any email with the expression"email problem" contained within will get a reply with BT's web site.....