Outlook & Email Tips

Email Alias Names and Email Addresses

Although it might not be visible, there is a big difference between an email address and an alias name.

An email address (also refered to as Real Name, Real Email Address or POP3 account) is basically an account located on an email server, where incoming emails are stored for the user of that account to get them. In order to see emails received on your email address, you must login with your logon name on the mail server of that account. In order to use emails, everyone needs an email address. It is like your postal mail address: if you wish to receive mail, you must suply a mail address.

An Alias name looks like an email address (it is an address), but it is a name defined within a host to represent a logon name within another network. The Alias Name is defined to a name translation program, like a mail server, when the Alias Name does not match the real name.

Let's take for example the following case:
Real Email Address: john@domain.com
Alias Name: sales@domain.com

Practically, you can have as many alias names as you like, associated with your real email address. When someone sends you an email to the alias name (sales@domain.com), the mail server of that domain name will forward the email message to the real address (john@domain.com). If you wish to check if you have new mail at sales@domain.com, you will have to check the email account of john@domain.com.

You can use both the alias and the real email address to send emails, but the replies will always be received at your real account.