Can I send e-mail through Drizzle's outgoing mail server even though my Internet connection is through someone else?

Yes!

Through the magic of SMTP authentication, you can use your Drizzle username and password to send e-mail from almost any Internet connection.

SMTP (outgoing e-mail) servers are almost always closed (use of an ISP's server is restricted to people who are users of that ISP, and connecting via that ISP). This is also the case with Drizzle's SMTP server. However, even if you're not on Drizzle's network, you can access the SMTP server if you supply your Drizzle username and password.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some ISPs (including comcast.net and msn.com) have restrictions in place so that their customers can't connect to an SMTP server other than the one belonging to that particular ISP. If your ISP is one that won't let you send e-mail out through Drizzle's SMTP server, you will have to change your settings to use their SMTP server instead. If you need help with this, you should contact their technical support department.

Here are instructions for setting up SMTP authentication for some of the more common e-mail clients:

Outlook Express (Windows):
Click on Tools, then Accounts. Select your Drizzle mail account, and click on Properties. Click on the Servers tab. The SMTP server should be "smtp.drizzle.com". Check the box under the SMTP server information that says "My outgoing mail server requires authentication".

Outlook Express (Mac):
Click on Tools, then Accounts. Select your Drizzle mail account, and click on Edit. The SMTP server should be "smtp.drizzle.com". Click on the button under Sending mail that says "Click here for advanced sending options", and check the box next to "SMTP server requires authentication".

Mail (Mac OS X):
Click on Mail, then Preferences. Select your Drizzle mail account, and click on Edit. The Outgoing Mail Server should be "smtp.drizzle.com". Click on the Options button under Outgoing Mail Server, and select "Password" in the Authentication drop-down menu.

Eudora (Windows/Mac):
Eudora's support of SMTP authentication is spotty at best. We don't recommend using SMTP authentication if Eudora is your primary mail client.

If your e-mail client is not listed here, the steps to set up SMTP authentication will be similar, but the exact wording of the options may be different. If you need help, just e-mail or call Technical Support.