Interactive Mail Access Protocol (IMAP)

Newer than POP, provides similar functions with additional features.

o e.g. can send specific messages to the client rather than all the messages.

A user can view email message headers and the sender’s name before downloading the entire message.

Allows users to delete and search mailboxes held on the email server.

The disadvantage of POP: You can only access messages from one PC.

The disadvantage of IMAP :Since email is stored on the email server, there is a need for more and more expensive (high speed) storage space.