Laptop E-Mail Puzzle

[Benchmark]

I recently bought a new Toshiba laptop with integrated 3G mobile broadband.

I 'regressed' it to Windows XP, and have set up POP3 e-mail accounts, etc in MS Outlook 2003.

When I am at home I can send and recieve e-mails without difficulty, using either Gigabit ethernet or wireless connection to the network. But as soon as I try to use the 3G connection I am unable to send e-mails. I can receive e-mails and use the internet, (including posting this thread), but any e-mails that I try to send just get stuck in the outbox until I get home, when they transmit normally.

I previously used a 3G dongle with my old laptop and this could send and recieve e-mails without problem.

Edit: The error message reads as follws:

Task 'my domain name’ - Sending' reported error (0x80042109) : 'Outlook is unable to connect to your outgoing (SMTP) e-mail server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).'

(It actually behaves rather like the VPN connection that I use at Uni, which allows me to download e-mails into Outlook, but not to send them).

Any ideas please?

[beejaybee]

Most likely your 3G service is blocking port 25 (SMTP). Many services do, it's a good way of stopping spambots; but, like all censorship, it's a right royal PITA for those who want to use standard services legitimately.

[john_g]

Is your 3G connection via Three? I'm in the process of leaving them because my mobile phone can no longer send emails from my Blueyonder account. It used to work fine and, when it stopped working, Three gave me a lot of contradictory and useless advice before, finally, admitting they no longer allow the sending of emails from many leading ISPs including Blueyonder, Virgin, Tiscali... the list went on.

[GeoffR]

Kind of pointless having an internet connection that blocks outgoing e-mail. Did they explain why or just state that they didn't allow e-mail sending anymore?

[Wodge]

Three gave me a lot of contradictory and useless advice before, finally, admitting they no longer allow the sending of emails from many leading ISPs including Blueyonder, Virgin, Tiscali... the list went on.

Well that is a pain! I hadn't realised that at all until you mentioned it. I must thank you for that little bit of information though. Contract up for renewal in August, and I think that this is the straw that tips me to another network.

Now, do I really need an iPhone??!!

[Scphoto]

Is your 3G connection via Three? I'm in the process of leaving them because my mobile phone can no longer send emails from my Blueyonder account.

Did they allow you to leave for free?

I've just cancelled both my 3 Mobile and 3 Mobile Broadband service without penalty as they are scrapping the 3 like home service from the end of this month (well, Mobile Broadband has gone, just in my 30 day notice for my mobile).

[Scphoto]

Now, do I really need an iPhone??!!

Yes, but no doubt other mobiles are available (cheaper, with better price plans etc....)

[Benchmark]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, my mobile broadband is with 3. I have my own domain, so I don't think they are blocking that. And it all worked well until I took the SIM out of my dongle and put it into the laptop.

The odd thing is, sometimes, just sometimes I can send e-mails via 3G, but most of the time I cannot. Rebooting the computer and logging onto 3G gives me the best chance, but if I switch to 3G from ethernet or wireless (without rebooting first) it nearlay always refuses to send e-mails.

Regarding the contract; when I signed up, internet access was free in certain foreign countries (notably Italy and Australia), but they now charge 10 pence a megabyte.

[john_g]

To answer a couple of questions:

I was able to leave Three because I was at the end of my contract, so didn't have to argue that one with them.

No, they've never given me a reason for withdrawing the ability to send emails from Blueyonder. The trouble started, for me at least, a couple of months ago when I was unable to reliably get an internet/email connection for a period of around four weeks. Three denied there was a problem but the staff in my local Three shop said that everybody in the area was experiencing similar problems as Three was working to upgrade the network infrastructure. After about four weeks I was suddenly able to get a reliable connection again, but no longer able to send my emails. Note that, during this time, I could always get a 3G or 3.5G connection, just that my phone couldn't then successfully access any internet services. Talking to Three is a sure-fire way of getting either mad or angry - they change their tune so often that I've simply given up trying to get sensible, informed answers from them. I know that they are now using Orange to provide some or all of their coverage and maybe this is the issue. But I don't know and, frankly, no longer care - I just feel sorry for the shop staff who, in my area at least, are generally helpful and well-informed. As for Three itself, my feeling is that they are an organisation in terminal decline.

[Scphoto]

Regarding the contract; when I signed up, internet access was free in certain foreign countries (notably Italy and Australia), but they now charge 10 pence a megabyte.

That's why they have given us the opportunity to leave without penalty, though 3 do their best not to tell you about it. The txt message sent to mobiles used to have a line telling you that you can leave, mine did not. Also they asked me when did I receive the txt on my Mobile broadband account - I replied, the Apple Mac version of Mobile Connect doesn't display text messages so how would I know?