You can access your att.net email account either through your web-browser (like Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, etc.) or through specialized client-based email programs (like Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express). Email programs are great for advanced users who need to manage large quantities of mail everyday. For most other customers, we recommend using webmail. Why?
AT&T Webmail offers a number of advantages:
1. Access Anywhere
AT&T Webmail: Since your email is stored online, you can access it easily anytime from any device connected to the Internet - so you can always keep in touch whether you're at home or on the go. Simply go to www.att.net and click on the Mail icon or go right to att.yahoo.com/mail, and you're there!
Client software: With other email programs, you must use the computer that your email program is installed on.
2. Easy configuration
AT&T Webmail: There's no complicated or frustrating set-ups -- just go to your home page at www.att.net and click the Mail icon.
Client-based email Programs: Other email programs need to be set up on each of your computers that you want to use to access your email. That means you'll need to know things like our server names, port numbers, etc. when you set up your computer.
3. Reliability
AT&T Webmail: Your mail is stored online so it's there for you whenever you have a connection to the Internet.
Client-based email Programs: If your hard drive crashes or the software fails, you can lose all your mail.
4. Storage
AT&T Webmail: One word sums it up: unlimited. Keep as much as you want on our servers, for as long as you like.
Client-based email Programs: Your messages and attachments are stored on your computer using up your hard disk space which can slow down your computer and software applications.
5. Spam monitoring
AT&T Webmail: You can easily review the possible spam messages we've put into your spam folder.
Client-based email Programs: Even though you downloaded your mail to your computer, client-based email programs don't download them from your spam folder so you'll still need to log in to webmail if you want to review possible spam messages.
6. Associated tools
AT&T Webmail: AT&T Webmail offers more than just mail! You can easily maintain your online address book and calendar, access your AT&T Yahoo! Instant Messenger, or start using new features to send greeting cards, edit photos, or track packages - right from your AT&T Webmail. And because you can access AT&T Webmail from any Internet-connected device, you'll always be able to access any of these features at home or on the go!
Client-based email Programs: Your address book and calendar are on your computer -- unavailable when you're away from home and vulnerable to the same risks of data-loss as your email.
| |
Access |
Configuration |
Reliability |
Storage |
Spam |
Tools |
| AT&T Webmail |
Anywhere, anytime via any device connected to the Internet. |
None - just go to www.att.net and click on the Mail icon. |
Messages are safely stored online so they're there when you need them. |
Unlimited - all your email is stored online. |
Convenient access to your spam folder to check messages. |
Access AT&T Yahoo! Messenger, your calendar, and address book right from AT&T Webmail - at home or on the go. |
| Client-based Email Programs |
Only via the computer with your email program. |
Requires knowledge of server names, ports, etc. to set-up; must set up on all computers you wish to have email access. |
Risk of losing messages due to hard drive crashes. |
Email is stored on your computer using hard drive space. |
Messages in your Spam folder aren't downloaded, so you'll need to access them separately. |
Unavailable if you're away form your computer. |
