Email hosting solutions are used by business people who travel and can't afford the cost of an internal email server. Several websites including large entities such as Microsoft offer email hosting solutions. This type of hosting incurs a monthly fee, but a business can have several email accounts configured on the host server.
Significance
Email hosting solutions take the work and cost out of the hands of the small business. The hosting company manages the host email, maintenance, security and user permissions. This is beneficial for businesses that do not have the personnel or finances to host an internal server and have a full-time employee manage it.
Types
A host server runs an email application, which sends and contains the email communication messages. Services such as Microsoft Exchange are purchased out-of-the-box and installed on a server. Some host servers customize and develop web host services, which means the interface for sending and receiving mail is through a web browser.
Function
The biggest function and advantage businesses have with email host service is the mobile use of email. Users can retrieve email on a PDA, cell phone or on a laptop. This is beneficial for people who travel often and still need to retrieve email. Email host services also provide security and spam filters, so they keep malicious communication from the business network.
Features
An email host solution has many of the same features as an internal host server. The users have an inbox that contains all the unread and archived email. User names and passwords are used to access the host server. Some host servers provide global contact lists that are only seen by the other company users. Before purchasing a hosting solution, check with the provider to ensure the required features are available.
Considerations
Before choosing a host provider, ensure that proper security is implemented. This means that the host provider has secured the email server and only allows users with proper names and passwords to access the internal network. For businesses that require mobile applications, ensure the host server allows remote access from a cell phone or PDA.