1. E-Mail Concepts  E-mail messages are passed through the internet by using a protocol called simple mail transfer protocol.  The incoming messages are received in an e-mail mailbox that resides on a mail server.  Mail servers receive and store e-mail messages in mailboxes by using a protocol called Post office Protocol or IMAP.  To read e-mail, a mail client is needed.  We can write e-mail messages by using e-mail application,  The messages are transferred to an SMTP server- a mail server that accepts e-mail.

2. E-mail Addressing  Internet e-mail addresses consists of two parts joined by @ sign.  User name – It contains characters other than letters-they can contain numbers, underscores, periods, and some other special characters. They can’t contain commas or parantheses.  Host or domain name – It provides the internet location of the mailbox, usually the name of a company or internet service.

3. Formatted E-mail HTML – This is formatted with HTML tags, just like web pages. It includes text formatting, numbering, bullets, alignment, horizontal lines, backgrounds, hyperlinks. It is actually sent using the MIME protocol. Rich Text Format – This format can be read by most word processing applications. Documents in this format are also called RTF files. MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) – It is used for attachments. Formatting includes text formatting, pictures, video and sound.

4. Web-Based E-mail Using web based email we can access the web as well as read our mail. Most web-based e-mail is free. We can read two kinds of messages on the web : Messages sent to a web-only account Messages stored in the POP mailbox

5. Web-Based E-mail Using web based email we can access the web as well as read our mail. Most web-based e-mail is free. We can read two kinds of messages on the web : Messages sent to a web-only account. Messages stored in the POP mailbox

6. Sending Attachments  To send a file by e-mail, create a message to which the file is to be attached.  Address the mail as usual and type the subject. If needed type the text in the body of the message.  Now attach the file by choosing a menu command or by clicking a toolbar button.  Large files can be compressed, so that the sending and downloading time can be minimized.

7. Receiving Attachments  Most e-mail applications store the attachments in the mail message.  First, open the message and then open or save the attachment.  When the message with an attachment is deleted, the attachment is also deleted.  To use the attachment later, it has to be saved.

8. Attaching files to a Microsoft Outlook e-mail  To attach files to a Microsoft Outlook, follow the below steps.  Open Microsoft Outlook.  Reply to an existing e-mail, or compose a new e-mail by clicking on the New icon in the top left portion of the window.  In the e-mail, click on the 'Insert file' icon that looks like a small paperclip, or click on Insert at the top of the window and choose file.  Browse to the location that contains your file and double-click it insert it.

9. If successfully attached you should see an icon of the attachment in your e-mail. Below is an alternative method of attaching a file into an e-mail. Open My computer or Windows explorer and browse to the location of where your pictures are located. Highlight and copy the picture you wish to send in an e-mail. Open a new e-mail or the e-mail you're replying to that you wish to attach the file into, right-click in the message portion of the e-mail and click paste.