Building a Hotmail

Anon

Hi everyone,

just kicking around the idea of building a free web-based email site such as Hotmail.

Does anyone with a grasp on how the linux mail system works know if this is possible to achieve without owning the server.

I cant afford to maintain a server myself so am wondering if thousands of email accounts can be achieved in a more 'virtual' way on a standard host account.

Appreciate your help.

Anon

Hi,

I'm trying to do the same thing. Yes it's more than just possible. The problem is very easy, but not simple to do.

If we can understand how the php can control, create, delate, ... forward,... etc. those domain emails via imap4 or pop3 system then we can do something like that very soon. Personaly I would be more then just happy if I could find a script that can do a redirection only for the subscribers. Or only for a pesonal use (controlled by one person only); just to learn how the code actually works on that base.

I'm interested in that project too. I'm willing to give my contribute with pleasure. If someone would like to join. Please do give us a hand to give a hard kick to a closed sorce socity.

-Gord

ciaranmg

It's certainly very possible, in fact if you have a look at "Professional PHP Programming" by Wrox press they have a walk through for a web based email application.

I think you can even download the source code.

Anon

Yup, you can download the source code from wrox.com, just click on the book "professional PHP" and you'll see the link.

Anon

You might want to take a look on freshmeat and sourceforge and see if anything that exists out there is what you were looking for. There are several webmail/php packages.

Anon

I looked into it a bit more and found this great resource:

http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Email_Systems/Web-based_Email/

I've no idea if any of these do the job without some level of sysadmin access though???

I'd guess creating thousands of email addresses would get most hosts a little jumpy, no?