It's the same reason you use the postman to deliver your mail to the post
office or distribution center, who then sends it via truck or airplane to
another distribution center, who then sends it via a third courier to the
intended recipient. This is better for volume, and takes care of the
eventuality that the recipient is not home when you call. You could of
course hire a courier service to carry your letter directly across town or
across the country, but it would cost more. And eventually the courier
services wind up using relays too to save themselves money. This is also
the same reason that many of us use voice mail. It is so much more
convenient than trying to play telephone tag.
If you don't think it is efficient, then try this experiment. Try to
contact a co-worker using an instant messenger or chat program on her day
off.
Earle
"rvj" <rvj@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uSldt5nBJHA.1012@xxxxxx
Quote:
>
> 1. Can anyone suggest some "light" reading why we use SMTP to point to a
> relay server that then redirects your email to the intended mail exchange
>
> RATHER THAN
>
> send the message DIRECTLY from the client email package to the intended
> mail exchange?
>
>
> It cant be client side performance overload since the email is only
> outgoing !
>
>
> 2. I presume the same host can be used for POP3 and SMTP - but is it
> advisable - any guidelines?
>