AOL Mail , also call in AIM Mail , is a recent development in America Online ’s long ( by Internet standard ) story . AOL has always offer e - ring armor service , but only to its pay customers and only through its proprietary , all - in - one software program package . However , in the spring of 2005 , AOL launched its first freeWebmailservice , known as AOL Mail .
AOL Mail differs from AOL ’s traditional e - mail program because it does n’t involve special software , and it ’s uncommitted for free to anyone , not just AOL ratifier . AOL Mail , like other connection mail programs , runs over the Internet using stock WWW browsers such as net Explorer , Firefox , Safari , et cetera . AOL Mail users just go tomail.aol.com , participate their login information and start out sending e - post .
you’re able to still download AOL ’s all - in - one Internet package and use the build up - in e - ring mail program ( the previous is called AOL Desktop and it ’s spare ) . For the purposes of this clause , we ’re going to concenter on the Web postal service version of AOL Mail .
For AOL to compete in the Web portal backwash , it want to up the ante , so it released AIM Mail with 2 GB of free storage , a large turn at the time . AOL now provide unlimited storage space with all AOL Mail chronicle .
In this HowStuffWorks article , we ’re fit to explicate on the button how AOL Mail works , from go under up an invoice to the service ’s basic and advance feature film . Let ’s get started .
Getting Started
To get bug out with an AOL Mail account , go tomail.aol.comand snap on the clit that says " Get FREE AOL Mail . " You ’ll then be asked to take an vitamin E - mail reference ( exercise : youraddress@aol.com ) and password for your business relationship . If you already have an AIM screen name , you’re able to utilize your existing cover name and password to log into AIM Mail . You ’ll mechanically be given an AIM Mail address based on your covert name ( example : yourscreenname@aim.com ) .
When you first lumber into AOL Mail , the primary part of the screen is pack up with scrolling headlines from AOL News . All of the literal Es - chain armour functions are located on the remaining side of the screen .
There you ’ll see a list of icons and folders , the first beingInbox . Your inbox is where all of your take in due east - mails are stored . tap the inbox picture and you ’ll be take to the inbox view , a chronological list of received e - mail from newest to oldest .
To read an Es - chain armor in the inbox , get through on it , and it ’ll open . All of the basic military action for responding to and manage e - mail are locate at the top of the window :
To publish an e - mail , either murder " Reply " to an existing message or the " Compose " release at the screen door ’s top leave to make a raw message . AOL Mail amount with arich textformatting pallet that take into account you to exchange font , text and background color , text alignment and more . Those tools are locate right above the large text box .
you could bond an trope or any other file cabinet using theAttach Filebutton . And you could spell check your message with theSpellingbutton at the top of the windowpane . tap misspell words to see suggest corrections . When you ’re quenched with your message , press theSendbutton at the top of the screen . If you ’re not ready , you may press theSave Draftbutton to lay aside the message in yourDraftsfolder on the left hand .
Below the Trash leaflet are two icon forContactsandCalendar . Contacts is the same as an address Christian Bible in other e - ring armor computer program . When you select Contacts , a new window will open up where you’re able to add new contacts , make full in their e - mail addresses and other contact entropy , and organize them into lists .
Click the Calendar clitoris to start the integrated calendar software program . strike theNew Eventbutton to append an event , appointee or meeting to the calendar . You ’ll be necessitate to name the event , set the date and time , suggest whether it repeats ( daily , weekly , et cetera ) , and jell up a reminder alarm . you could also add an case description and a location that automatically links to Mapquest .
Now get ’s bet at some of the newer and more advanced features of AOL Mail .
Advanced Features
AOL Mail offers many modern feature , includingpanels , which can be found on the mail screen ’s right side . board are prompt link to other on-line service leave by AOL or its partners . Here ’s entropy about the most useful panels :
AOL Easy Transfer
Use this free service to import all your contacts and onetime e - postal service from another due east - mail program . Enter your honest-to-god e - mail address and password , and your Es - mails and contact will transfer into your new AOL account within 24 hours . It can also alert your contact about your address change and forward e - mail service to your AOL account statement for 30 days .
Settings
Other raw features are place on theSettingsmenu . The options link is at the top right side of the AOL Mail screen . In preferences , underGeneral , there ’s a check box for " Use a reading pane to view mail . " you could learn mail in your inbox without spread out each private message . alternatively , the screen splits in half with your inbox above and a trailer surface area below scream thereading pane .
TheFiltersoption lets you add up rules for automatically organizing and archiving received mail . For exercise , tocopherol - mails from your boss will go to your body of work folder . Or e - mails from your ex-wife - boyfriend will go to the Trash pamphlet . you’re able to also create new filters when scan a received einsteinium - mail . afford the vitamin E - mail , clack the Action push button and scroll down to " Create a Filter . "
Also in preferences isMobile Mail . Here you may enter your cellular telephone phone number to encounter a text message with a link to download a free written matter ofAOL Mobile Mail . you could place and obtain e - postal service immediately from your cell sound using your AOL Mail or AIM Mail address .
