Recommendations for a .NET component to access an email inbox [closed]

Answer 1

If you use an open source POP3 implementation or something freely available then you will have access to modify the code and expand it in the direction needed. A quick Google resulted in this C# POP3 code from Code Project to retrieve messages.

There's something empowering about rolling your own, or at least extending it.

Answer 2

How about WCF? It's free.

If you have an Exchange server: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb397812.aspx

an example for pop3: http://bartdesmet.net/blogs/bart/archive/2006/09/13/4417.aspx

Answer 3

C#Mail cost $0 but is also GNU GPL licenced, so make sure that's OK.

Answer 4

You can do this using MailBee.NET Objects: http://www.afterlogic.com/products/net-email-components

While I'd recommend to use IMAP indeed, particularly since it offers IDLE support mentioned here already, you could do the same with POP3. There's a brief description of both the approaches, and a complete sample for IMAP IDLE scenario:

http://www.afterlogic.com/wiki/Getting_notifications_about_new_messages_in_mailbox_%28IMAP_IDLE_and_polling%29

Please note that I am affiliated with AfterLogic, and I'll be pleased to assist you if you need any help, check Request Support option at our website.

Answer 5

I would recommend AdvancedIntellect. There are components for POP3 and IMAP (ASPNetPOP3 and ASPNetIMAP). Good quality and very responsive support - I remember receiving replies to my questions on a weekend.

Answer 6

With IMAP protocol you can access sub folders, and set message status (seen/unseen), also you can use IDLE feature for instant notifications.

Mail.dll includes POP3, IMAP, SMTP components with SSL support and powerful MIME parser:

using(Imap imap = new Imap())
{
    imap.Connect("imap.server.com");    // or ConnectSSL for SSL
    imap.Login("user", "password");

    imap.SelectInbox();
    List<long> uids = imap.Search(Flag.Unseen);
    foreach (long uid in uids)
    {
        IMail mail = new MailBuilder()
            .CreateFromEml(imap.GetMessageByUID(uid));
        Console.WriteLine(mail.Subject);
    }
    imap.Close();
}

Please note that this is commercial product that I've created.

You can download it at https://www.limilabs.com/mail