The OfficeTalk Internet mail service can receive mail via either a single-user POP3 mailbox or via a multiple POP3 mailbox. A multiple POP3 mailbox can be used for receiving mail for one or more people, whereas a single-user POP3 mailbox may be used for receiving mail for only one person. Alternatively, OfficeTalk can receive mail from an SMTP server. This is less common than receiving via POP3 but, like the multiple POP3 mailbox, all the mail for the entire workgroup may be received via a single connection to the SMTP server.
Most organisations typically receive using POP3 and purchase, from a service provider, a POP3 mailbox for each user. You can provide OfficeTalk with information about each POP3 mailbox and it will download mail from each mailbox in turn.
The OfficeTalk Internet mail service is particularly advantageous when all users' mail is collected from the same multiple POP3 mailbox or from the same SMTP server since you need only pay your Internet service provider for one mailbox and can provide Internet mail connectivity for your entire workgroup.