Re: [cobalt-users] raq3 and smtp support, heeeelllppp...

["Steve Werby" <steve-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jeff Lasman" <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> BTW, most hosting companies no longer let anyone use their email server
> for outgoing email; these days people are expected to use the server
> supplied by their ISP, or their own, if their ISP allows it.

A year ago this was a fairly accurate blanket statement, but the tide may be
turning here soon.  Over the last year many ISPs that hadn't been already
have put restrictions on use of their SMTP servers and made it difficult to
use an SMTP server of your choice.  For example, Verizon (with millions of
dialup and DSL customers) has limited access to their SMTP servers to emails
sent using the Verizon provided email address in the From header.  Others
have blocked port 25 traffic to external locations or redirected it to their
own SMTP servers.  There are workarounds for the above situations, but
they're not ideal.  If this behavior increases, web hosts that don't allow
their customers to use their SMTP servers will likely lose potential
customers and send some existing customers packing.

--
Steve Werby
President, Befriend Internet Services LLC
http://www.befriend.com/