Use Outlook Express to read Yahoo email?

Infopackets Reader Elizabeth K. asks: " I want to read my Yahoo email using Outlook Express. Can you please tell me how to do this? "

My response:

Outlook Express only supports POP3 and IMAP mail server protocols. In not-so-techy-terms, a protocol is simply a method of communication between computers (such as your computer and the yahoo mail server).

The web version of Yahoo email doesn't use POP3 email protocol because it operates over the browser. If you want to use POP3, you can:

1. Sign up for a free service offered by Yahoo which allows you to use POP3 protocol with any email client. In order to subscribe to the free POP3 service offered by Yahoo, you will also have to agree to receive advertisements from Yahoo "partners" in your email box.
    
2. Sign up for Yahoo premium service. The cost is $19.99 a year and you won't get the ads. More info:
   
   http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/mail/pop/
    
3. Use a free POP3 gateway provided by YahooPops. More info:
   
   http://yahoopops.sourceforge.net/