Try IMAP IDLE first, which uses a persistent TCP session. It's included in most newer IMAP servers.
If you have access to a cheap SMS sending service, and a phone that supports it, OMA Email Notification is an alternative. It's a simple email notification carried over wap push, which in turn can use SMS as a bearer.
"True" server-initiated push email requires the phone to be addressable by the server. On a current mobile network, which is NAT:ed IPv4, this is often not possible.
The usual workaround, at least in the GSM world, is an initial SMS send from server to client, followed by a client-initiated connection. But SMS is no free service, and there is no standard billing model for non-operator email providers:/
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Try IMAP IDLE first, which uses a persistent TCP session. It's included in most newer IMAP servers.
If you have access to a cheap SMS sending service, and a phone that supports it, OMA Email Notification is an alternative. It's a simple email notification carried over wap push, which in turn can use SMS as a bearer.
"True" server-initiated push email requires the phone to be addressable by the server. On a current mobile network, which is NAT:ed IPv4, this is often not possible.
:/
The usual workaround, at least in the GSM world, is an initial SMS send from server to client, followed by a client-initiated connection. But SMS is no free service, and there is no standard billing model for non-operator email providers
Microsoft is doing it too. I found their technical careers blog pretty interesting. http://blogs.msdn.com/jobsblog/archive/2006/04/05/ 569559.aspx