More and more device manufacturers are looking to embed Internet email capabilities into the devices they make. By using embedded SMTP protocols, a device can send status notifications to other devices or to human beings. By taking advantage of the wide deployment of Internet email servers, a device can send a message anywhere on the Internet.

Other uses of embedded email software allows devices to receive email messages using embedded POP3 protocols. The messages can be configuration and control messages or device upgrade messages and can be created by human beings using standard email software, or by message creation software. By taking advantage of the wide deployment of Internet email servers, a device can receive a message anywhere on the Internet.

A variety of consumer products are using embedded SMTP and embedded POP3 protocols together to allow devices such as PDAs, television set top boxes and wireless phones to allow users to access standard Internet email from devices other than personal computers. Some market estimates suggest that the number of Post-PC devices used for email will outnumber standard PCs by 2004.

For further information on software toolkits to provide embedded email or other embedded Internet capabilities, see...

   Embedded SMTP software

   Embedded POP3 software

   Embedded Internet software