My ISP is Earthlink/Mindspring and I think they are great. This is true even though they do not offer DSL service in the town where I now live. However, Verizon (another national player) does offer this service. So I can use their DSL service to access my Earthlink/Mindspring messages (“old e-mail”) with minimal cost. Here’s how.

First, I had to order the new DSL service. Then I had to wait for their hardware and software welcome package to arrive. The installation directions for the hardware and software were quiet easy and very straightforward. It literally took only 10 minutes to hook it up and install the software!

Then, I had to go into my Microsoft Outlook (v ’02) program, (which I was using with my dial-up service), and choose the “Tools” menu and selected “E-mail Accounts…”. (The specific location of this command will vary depending on which e-mail program you are using and its version.) This is where I had to modify the settings so I could continue to send and receive my previous ISP’s e-mail through my new ISP’s DSL service. Sound confusing? It’s really very easy!

The next screen gave me a choice to “add another e-mail account” or “change an existing e-mail account”. Since I already had my accounts entered into the program (because I used it before I moved and got DSL; I just needed to change the settings) I selected the “change” option.

This took me to a screen where all my e-mail accounts were visible. I proceeded to click on each of the e-mail account buttons (I had 5) followed by the “Change…” button. This took me to a screen where I could modify the “Incoming Mail Server-POP3” and “Outgoing Mail Server-SMTP” settings.

The Incoming Mail Server-POP3 setting was already set since this is the setting for my “old” ISP’s incoming mail server. I want to continue getting mail from their server so I left this alone. (Contact your “old” ISP for this Incoming Server information if you are unsure. It must be exact!)

Since I am now using a new DSL service from Verizon, the Outgoing Mail Server-SMTP needs changing. I will now send my mail out via their much faster (compared to dial-up) DSL server. To do this I will need to set-up Outlook ’02 so that the program “logs into” the DSL server. To do this I needed to enter the Outgoing SMTP server address that was shown on the paperwork that came with the DSL hardware. Again, contact your ISP (either “old” or “new”) if you have ANY questions about what the exact address is. It could save you hours of frustration!

Now, since I have set-up Outlook to go to my new DSL server, I have to enter my new “User ID” and “password” for this account. This information was also on the paperwork that shipped with the hardware and needed to be entered for each e-mail address that was listed under the “Tools” menu, “E-mail Accounts…”, “Next” command. (Notice that the “E-mail Account” dialogue box is referring to the “POP3” settings, so make sure that the information here (ID and password) are referring to the “old” mail server you are trying to access.) Also make sure and enter the e-mail address you want people to reply to when receiving messages from you.

I then selected each account by clicking on it once and then clicking the “Change…” button. This takes you to “Internet E-mail Settings” where you can click on the “Outgoing Server” tab (for each account). You want to check the “Log On Using” box and enter your new DSL account information. (This is necessary so that you can access your DSL account from which to send your e-mail.) I would also put a check in the box “Remember Password” just so it doesn’t ask you every time.

You’re all set! Now just try it out a few times by e-mailing yourself a few messages to each e-mail address that appears under the “Tools” menu, “E-mail Accounts…” option, just to make sure it works. If it doesn’t work try calling your ISP’s tech support and have them walk you through your settings. All it takes is just one setting to be wrong and it won’t work!

Now, since you are not going to be “logged in” for a significant amount of time to your “old” ISP you can contact them and see if they have any type of minimal use plan. Mindspring/Earthlink has a “light” plan that you can change to, which has a monthly fee of only about $7. This is fine since you are doing all your Web surfing, etc. on your DSL account.

Now you’re all set with the best of both worlds. First, you have the speed and benefits of DSL service for all your Internet needs, and second you have your e-mail program to retrieve your “old” e-mail using your DSL service. This avoids the hassle of having to get a new e-mail address, re-print business cards and other pieces, publicize the change and notify clients.

Published: August 2, 2002

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Dave Eliason is President of Computer Business Training Services, a technology consulting business formerly from Atlanta, GA, now located in Concord, New Hampshire. Dave specializes in integrating technology into the real estate businesses of his clients and their brokerages. He has taught numerous hands on classes to Realtors since 1996, and speaks to many organizations throughout the real estate industry. Dave is on faculty at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, NH, a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, NY and a Top Producer Certified Instructor. He can be reached at Dave@NHAgentTraining.com or http://www.NHAgentTraining.com