you can acces th eserer directly instead of using imap_open() etc. For instance:
$fp = fsockopen($server, $port);
$a = fgets($fp, 1024);
fputs($fp, "USER $user\r\n");
$b = fgets($fp, 1024);
fputs($fp, "PASS $pass\r\n");
if (substr(fgets($fp, 1024), 0, 3) != "+OK") { echo "wrong pass";}
etc etc..
you should read the RFC regarding POP3 ... learn what commands a pop3 server acepts, and how it replies... the only drawback to thisis that you have to programatically disect the mail and extract data / attachments .. which is doable but much more coding than imap functions... goto a site like hotscripts.com and download a couple of pop3 mail readers and look at their code.
hope it helps
