Good webmail for phones

March 19, 2007 11:24 AM

Webmail IMAP client: like SquirrelMail, but smaller, for a mobile phone? My new phone (S/E w810i) does "email", in the sense that it can talk to a small range of pre-selected partners like Yahoo or AOL. I'm looking for a web-based IMAP client that I can use to access my own IMAP server. It should be something along the lines of MIR, but that allows writing mail as well as reading it. I like SquirrelMail a lot, but it doesn't have a non-framed, minimal view.
posted by migurski to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Have you looked at MIMP?

Mail2web.com might work too; you have to trust their third-party server though.
posted by Eater at 11:46 AM on March 19, 2007

I access my IMAP server on my S/E w600i with the built in mail client. Go to Menu/Messaging/Email/Settings/Account Settings/New Account to configure your account. Works pretty flawlessly, and probably uses significantly less bandwidth than webmail.
posted by sharkweek at 12:27 PM on March 19, 2007

Sharkweek, the only options I'm getting from that menu are Yahoo, Hotmail, and AOL. Is the w600i a model up from mine, or offered by a less rapacious carrier? Mine's Cingular.

Eater, I'll check out MIMP. It looks like what I want, but also way-alpha. Not that that scares me. =)
posted by migurski at 2:49 PM on March 19, 2007

I don't have my 810 with me, but I think you need to create a new account; give it any name, and then setup the servers, etc. One option will be to select IMAP as the account type.

If you are using Cingular, here are the email settings:
MEdia Net
IMAP4
Your incoming mail server (like mail.mac.com)
143
your user name (the part before the @)
your password
cwmx.com
25
Reply-To email (usually your email address)
Headers Only
Signature, if desired
posted by jpmack at 3:30 PM on March 19, 2007

the w600i is a bump earlier than yours, I believe, and it's also from Cingular.

In my Account Settings menu I see, New Account, followed by 3 carriers (SBC Yahoo, Earthlink, and Bellsouth, all with radio buttons) If I hit New Account, it walks me through setting up a new email account, just like a desktop mail client.

It wouldn't surprise me if Cingular had blocked this feature though... wouldn't be the first time a cell carrier decided to prevent a user from accessing a useful feature.
posted by sharkweek at 5:44 PM on March 19, 2007

1) Forward all your mail to GMail (a .forward in your home directory is the quickest way)
2) Use the GMail Java client software
3) Never want to use webmail on a phone ever again
posted by blag at 5:52 PM on March 19, 2007

Either the Gmail java app for your phone, or if you want something more powerful, that can handle IM and mail over your data connection, try Agile Messenger. I'm not sure if it works with your phone, but I know Gmail does.

You may have an issue with security settings/java permissions where you have to authorize the program every time it connects(buddy of mine had a similar problem and ended up sending it back because tech support was useless), so try to find the setting to allow permanently rather than allow just once in the java settings.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 6:30 PM on March 19, 2007

Thanks everyone.

I tried jpmack & sharkweek's suggestions, but it seems that this functionality has been crippled on my phone.

Sigh.

The GMail thing could be an easy fix if I was willing to hand over all my personal communications to the Goo' for the sake of my phone. They already know too much about me! Agile Messenger sounds promising, though I can't find any mention of IMAP here: http://www.agilemobile.com/agile_messenger.html.
posted by migurski at 11:48 PM on March 19, 2007