# Sending mail on wireless networks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-mail-on-wireless-networks/235945>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 23, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-mail-on-wireless-networks/235945 "2004-03-23T18:17:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aka\_10003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@aka\_10003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aka_10003)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-mail-on-wireless-networks/235945/1 "2004-03-23T18:17:29Z")

</div>

Some mail programs (Outlook Express…) require the specification of the outgoing mail server (SMTP).

Is it possible to send out mail with these programs when on a wireless network (public space…) and the SMTP address is not readily available?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![5cents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/46a35a/32.png) [@5cents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5cents)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-mail-on-wireless-networks/235945/2 "2004-03-24T00:09:34Z")

</div>

Simplest thing is to ask your ISP if their mail server does SMTP authentication. If so, you should be able to send out from it even if you are outside the ISPs network.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-mail-on-wireless-networks/235945/3 "2004-03-24T00:13:28Z")

</div>

If not, you could install an SMTP server program on your computer and cut out the middle man; I use Postcast Server, which is free, but a trifle buggy sometimes.