In my last tutorial I showed how easy it was to setup push email for my Google Apps and Gmail accounts on the Palm Pre. Earlier this week I discovered that setting up push email for the accounts I have setup with my web host was just as easy.

This is pretty exciting to me because I have avoided using these email addresses in the past because I didn’t care for the various webmail clients that were available to use with them and I couldn’t sync them to my phone. I suspect many other web developers and website owners feel the same way by the number of people I see using a Gmail address instead of an email address that utilizes their own domain name.

I would still recommend that businesses or heavy email users run their email with Google Apps for Your Domain and following my previous tutorial to sync it to your Pre. That way you get the benefits of Gmail with your domain name and it’s easier to use on your desktop. However, for setting up sites that require minimal email use, the Pre makes web host email accounts a viable solution.

With that said, let’s get to the tutorial. Below are the steps I used to setup push email for accounts I have with AN Hosting, my web host of choice.

Find the Manual Settings for Your Email Account

First you’ll need to log into the cPanel of your hosting account.

• Once logged in, click “Email Accounts”
• If you haven’t already created an email account you can do so at the top of this page. Follow the video tutorial if needed.
• Select the email you want to sync to your Pre from your list of current accounts and click “Configure Mail Client.

Select email account in cPanel and click "Configure Mail Client."

On the following page take note of the “Manual Settings.”

Your manual settings should look like this (note: I've erased mine for security purposes).

Add An Account on Your Palm Pre

1. Click the email icon to open your email.
2. Click the “Email” drop down arrow in the upper left hand corner.
3. Select “Preferences & Accounts.”
4. Scroll to the bottom and select “Add An Account.”
5. Click the “Email” drop down arrow in the upper left hand corner again.
6. Select “Manual Setup.”

Enter Manual Settings into Your Palm Pre

Mail Type: IMAP
Email Address: Enter your full email address (i.e. username@yourdomain.com)

Incoming Mail Server
Server Name: Enter the mail server address listed after “Incoming Mail Server: (SSL)” from your web hosts manual settings (3rd line down in the above screenshot).
Username: Same as you entered for Email Address above.
Password: Enter the password you use to access your email account.
Port #: 993
Encryption: SSL

 

Outgoing Mail Server
Server Name: Enter the mail server address listed after “Outgoing Mail Server: (SSL)” from your web hosts manual settings (5th line down in the above screenshot).
Use Authentication: On
Username: Same as you entered for “Incoming Mail Server.”
Password: Same as you entered for “Incoming Mail Server.”
Port#: 465
Encryption: SSL

Root Folder: leave blank

When all finished, click “Sign In.” Give the Pre a couple minutes to sync and you’re all set.

Final Thoughts

The only downside I’ve seen to this so far is that I have to log into the crummy webmail client of my hosting provider to create any folders I want in addition to the inbox. At the moment I’m not going to use this for any heavily used email accounts, but it’s a nice alternative to setting up another Gmail account to manage a site that seldom requires email.

Give it a shot and let me know if you have any questions.

It’s only day two with my new Palm Pre and to say I’m a tad excited would be a huge understatement.

So far one of my favorite features is how it manages email – particularly multiple email accounts. This is a HUGE feature for anyone like myself who has tried to manage multiple email accounts for different personal and work related endeavors. I set up my primary Exchange email yesterday and within 2 minutes, my calendar, email, and 600+ contacts were completely in sync with the Pre!

I was even more excited today when I sat down to add one of my Google Apps email accounts. It turns out that the Palm Pre supports the IMAP IDLE protocol, thereby enabling “push” email with your Google Apps email, or any Gmail account for that matter. After a quick review of Gmail Help I was off to the races.

Getting Started

1. Click the email icon to open your email.
2. Click the “Email” drop down arrow in the upper left hand corner.
3. Select “Preferences & Accounts.”
4. Scroll to the bottom and select “Add An Account.”
5. Click the “Email” drop down arrow in the upper left hand corner again.
6. Select “Manual Setup.”

Palm Pre Settings for Push Google Apps Email & Gmail

Mail Type: IMAP
Email Address:

• Google Apps users – Enter your full email address (i.e. username@yourdomain.com).
• Gmail users – Enter your full email address (i.e. username@gmail.com).

Incoming Mail Server
Server Name: imap.gmail.com
Username:  Same as you entered for Email Address above.

• Google Apps users – Enter your full email address (i.e. username@yourdomain.com).
• Gmail users – Enter your full email address (i.e. username@gmail.com).

Password: Enter your password.
Port #: 993
Encryption: SSL

Outgoing Mail Server
Server Name: smtp.gmail.com
Use Authentication: Yes
Port#: 465
Encryption: SSL

Root Folder: leave blank

Updates

July 7, 2009

A few readers have provided additional pointers that I wanted to update this post with in case you don’t see them in the comments.

1. As Eric Marschall points out, be sure you have activated IMAP in the Settings of your Gmail or Google Apps email account. Eric also mentions that you may need to unlock the captcha.
2. Kyle and Doc both point out that you need to have Wi-Fi turned off when setting up your email accounts on the Pre. Especially if you are behind a corporate firewall.

Thanks to all visitors for your comments and additional tips…keep em’ coming!

Final Thoughts

I love the Pre. It’s so easy to set up and navigate. Managing multiple email accounts on the Pre is easier than doing so on my laptop. The ability to view and respond to email from “all inboxes” or one specific email account is a productive feature that is long overdue with all email clients in general (i.e. Outlook). I’m going to do some more testing this week and if all goes as planned, it looks like it’s time to say goodbye to the old Exchange server to deliver my critical push email and hello to more Google Apps email!

I heart you Pre!