Proto. mail

A blast from the past!

proto.mail is a reference to the early days of email, specifically the original protocol used for sending and receiving email messages.

In the early days of the internet, email was sent using a protocol called Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SMTP is still widely used today, but it has evolved over time to become more robust and secure.

Here's a brief history of email protocols:

1. proto.mail (1971): The first email protocol, developed by Ray Tomlinson, was a simple text-based protocol that allowed users to send and receive email messages using a command-line interface.
2. SMTP (1982): SMTP replaced proto.mail and became the standard protocol for sending and receiving email messages. SMTP is still widely used today, but it has been updated to include features like authentication and encryption.
3. POP3 (1984): Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) was developed to allow users to retrieve email messages from a mail server. POP3 is still used today, but it has been largely replaced by IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).
4. IMAP (1996): IMAP is a more advanced protocol that allows users to access and manage their email messages on a mail server. IMAP is widely used today, especially with web-based email services like Gmail and Outlook.

In summary, proto.mail is an outdated term that refers to the early days of email, while SMTP, POP3, and IMAP are the protocols that have evolved to become the standard for sending and receiving email messages today.