Why email isn't sending on iPhone

I don’t own an Apple iPhone. I don’t have a need for a smart phone (maps, sending email on my phone, or watching YouTube videos–can you do and still call it a “smart” phone?). I also don’t want to pay for AT&T’s media plan either. And I only use my 20GB iPod in the car. Three of my co-workers own iPhones though, and one asked me to configure it to send email.

You would thin, since the only wireless carrier that the Apple iPhone works with is AT&T (albeit the new hacks that have appeared), that they would make the default SMTP server AT&T’s SMTP’s server. However, they didn’t.

In AT&T’s Support KnowledgeBase KB7276 it says:

AT&T will provide support for sending E-mail using AT&T owned and operated outgoing server addresses:

• Former AT&T Wireless customers use “smtp.mymmode.com” (Standard POP/IMAP compatible via port 25 with no SSL.)
• AT&T customers use “cwmx.com” (Standard POP/IMAP compatible via port 25 with no SSL.)

The configuration and use of any other outgoing server address will not be supported due to several factors including, but not limited to, the inability for the outgoing server to authenticate users (whether by IP or username/password) that are not directly connected to that Internet Service Providers network. This is mainly done to prevent unsolicited users from sending SPAM via the ISPs servers.

Problem fixed!

-Stephen M. James
www.smjdesign.com

You may view the latest post at
http://www.smjdesign.com/designwell/archives/why-email-isnt-sending-on-iphone/

Compatible ink jet cartidges are a great deal

Unless you use your ink jet printer for graphic design or photography, you should look into compatible ink cartridges. I have been using compatible ink cartridges for my ink jet printers for over five years now. On some models, manufacturers sell their printer slightly above cost, because they know you will buy their ink jet cartridges in the future, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO!

As to the quality, I have found them to slightly inferior. They seem more likely to have banding which can be fixed by a cartridge cleaning. They also may not last as long–if you are archiving. The majority of items I print I do not need to save for three years. I printed all of our wedding invitations with compatible ink jet cartridges, so we will see how those hold up in a few years.

I don’t always buy my compatible ink jet cartridges from the same online stores. Since there only a few compatible ink manufactures, you will probably get the same cartridges. I just bought the following compatible ink cartridges from ABCink and SuperMediaStore:

Epson Color Photo R220: 12-pack (2 of each) $29
Epson Color Stylus 880: 6 black, 2 Color $35

Also, you should only buy from places that give you free shipping!

-Stephen M. James
www.smjdesign.com

You may view the latest post at
http://www.smjdesign.com/designwell/archives/compatible-ink-jet-cartidges-inkjet-review-epson-canon-hp/

Domain and hosting problems and how to prevent them

I have had a client choose to register their domain and host their website with AnywhereHost. About two weeks ago, AnywhereHost upgraded their servers and in the last week, they and GoDaddy, their registrar, have been having problems. This makes the client’s website intermittently down. It also has made the client’s email stop working entirely. As you know, email is essential to day-to-day operation at any modern company. Can you trust your email to a $7/month company with personnel that you’ve never met in person. This hosting company, AnyWhereHost has been called multiple times, but they refuse to answer their phone. We have been unable to obtain the domain from them.

The best advice to prevent this from happening to you is DO NOT allow a shared hosting service to register YOUR domain for you.

I know from experience. Many years ago, I tried to retrieve my domain from a hosting company and spent hours on the phone. It turned out that the hosting company had been bought out and split. I was talking to the part of the company that kept the old name, but had sold out. They still had my records, too, and told me I was their customer until I talked to a manager that knew the situation.

Yes, you do need to know something of what you are doing to enter information into a few fields at a third-party registrar, such as Register.com or ItsYourDomain.com. You need to know your host’s name servers and that’s all. You can request those in a simple email to your host. It will cost you $15-$20 a year more to have a third-party registrar, but what is that small amount of money for a domain that you have control of at any moment. If you’re server and/or hosting company goes down, just move it.

Also, remember to regularly back up your online site to you local computer in case you cannot contact your hosting service.

-Stephen M. James
www.smjdesign.com

You may view the latest post at
http://www.smjdesign.com/designwell/archives/domain-and-hosting-problems-and-how-to-prevent-them/