[Andrew Stephens]

Set it all up fine. Mail comes in but sending is very erratic. Set up the correct imap server on the correct port with the correct authentication. First mail after setting up server goes fine but pretty much randomly mails fail to send with the error that the selcted smtp server cannot be used.

Is this a problem with Apple mail and AOL's stupid propriatory lash up of IMAP mail?

Can't switch to another smtp server since too many internet filters block AOL mails not sent from the main aol smtp server.

cheers

[besson3c]

I didn't know that AOL even offered IMAP access...

What I would suggest doing is testing whether the SMTP server cannot be contacted on the port you are using, or whether it is reachable but producing some other sort of error. To test the former, the next time you get this error, try doing the following in your Terminal:

telnet smtpservername 25

If you are not getting a response, this is a networking issue, not a Mail issue. Chances are, the default port (25) is being blocked by the ISP you are with. Try the same telnet test but to port 587, and if that works, update your mail configuration to use port 587. This is the submission port, and an alternate port for sending mail - either unauthenticated or via TLS auth.

[angelmb]

Never had any issue with Mail app and AOL, are you using the AOL Service Assistant??

ftp://download.newaol.com/mac/AOL_Service_Assistant.dmg

[pendragon]

I have had AOL IMAP/Mail for several months and it works great. As for me, it's problem free, robust, no spam, etc, etc.

But, FWIW (and if it makes a difference) I did not follow the Mail or AOL instructions when I first set up the Mail account. Instead, I used the following Google instructions. What, if any, difference it makes, I dunno. But you may care to try it. If it works, sing my praises. If it does not, the account is easily deleted.

Apple Mail 3.0 (Leopard)